Fah Thai Magazine Jan-Feb 2017

Fah Thai 

JAN-FEB 2017

HM 

& 

The New Golden Era

Thailand has entered a new chapter 

in history as His Royal Highness 

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn 

acceded to the throne on 

December 1, 2016. 

Words: Anjira Assavanonda 

The proclamation for our new 

King came seven weeks after the 

passing of his much-revered 

father, His Majesty King Bhumibol 

Adulyadej, the world’s longest 

reigning monarch. 

A formal invitation from 

parliament began the accession 

process, concluding with a 

ceremony at the Dusit Palace in 

Bangkok. The Crown Prince, 64, 

accepted the invitation from the 

Head of the National Legislative 

Assembly and agreed to become 

King. He is now King Rama X, 

the tenth sovereign of the Chakri 

Dynasty with the official title “His 

Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn 

Bodindradebayavarangkun.” 

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth 

Chan-ocha announced to the 

nation that the heir to the 

throne graciously accepted the 

invitation. “I would like to accept 

(the invitation) in order to fulfill 

His Majesty’s wishes and for the 

benefit of all Thais,” the new 

King stated. 

“A kingdom should not be 

without a monarch on the throne,” 

said Gen Prayuth, announcing the 

commencement of the new reign to 

begin on October 13, 2016. 

His Majesty as A Young Boy 

His Majesty King 

Maha Vajiralongkorn 

Bodindradebayavarangkun was 

born on July 28, 1952 at Ambara 

Villa of Dusit Palace. He is the 

only son of His Majesty the late 

King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Her 

Majesty Queen Sirikit. 

The 13th Supreme Patriarch 

of the Rattanakosin era gave 

the newborn prince his first 

name as “Somdej Phra Chao Luk 

Ya Ter Chaofa Vajiralongkorn 

Boromchakrayadisorn Santatiwong 

Thewetthamrongsuboribal 

Abhikkunupakornmahitaladulyadej 

Bhumibolnaretwarangkun 

Kittisirisombunsawangwat 

Boromkhattiyarajakuman.” 

As a child, His Majesty had 

been neat and orderly, who always 

respected rules and regulations. 

Whenever he saw a sign indicating 

“Shoes Off First”, the young 

prince would immediately 

follow instructions. His sense of 

discipline grew stronger as he 

grew up. 

He developed a fondness for 

military affairs at an early age. As 

a young prince, he often visited 

the military garrison and asked 

questions to those in the services 

as he inspected their uniforms 

and orderliness. His Majesty once 

asked his father, the late monarch, 

to build a small mock-up military 

camp in the palace. He spent a lot 

in this camp, either cooking for 

himself or enjoying meals with 

those around him. 

On December 28, 1972, at the 

auspicious time of 12:23 pm, in 

accordance to a centuries-old 

tradition in the Ananta Samakhom 

Throne Hall, he was proclaimed 

Crown Prince. 

As he accepted the title, the 

Crown Prince gave his oath to 

the people and promised, “I will 

perform my duties to the best of my 

intelligence and ability, and also 

with devotion, for the peace and 

prosperity of Thailand.” 

His Education 

His Majesty King Rama X 

received his early education at 

Chitralada School in the Dusit 

Palace, followed by King’s Mead 

School in Seaford, Sussex, and 

continued on to Millfield School in 

Somerset, Great Britain. 

Because he had always expressed 

a strong interest in military affairs, 

the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej 

approved the Crown Prince’s 

attendance at a military course 

at the King’s School in Sydney, 

Australia in 1970. 

In 1972, he entered the Royal 

Military College, Duntroon in 

Canberra, Australia. The two-part 

curriculum had a military training 

course designed by the Australian 

Army and a bachelor’s degree 

under the supervision of the 

University of New South Wales. He 

graduated from the college in 1976 

with the rank of lieutenant and a 

degree in liberal arts. 

Training programmes in special 

forces, demolition, unconventional 

warfare tactics and advanced 

aviation training in Australia and 

the United States enhanced His 

Majesty’s military background. 

His Military and 

Aviation Skills 

Through intensive flight training, 

His Majesty became a qualified 

military pilot and gained 

recognition as “the first fighter jet 

pilot prince” of the Chakri Dynasty. 

After returning to Thailand, 

he served as a career officer in 

the Royal Thai Army and attended 

the Command and General Staff 

College in 1977. He also served as 

a staff officer in the Directorate 

of Army Intelligence, and in 1978, 

became head of the King’s Personal 

Bodyguard Battalion. 

With expertise in aviation, His 

Majesty used his knowledge to 

develop a flight training curriculum 

and also helped train pilots in the 

Royal Thai Air Force on modern 

flight techniques. 

His Majesty also enrolled in a 

Commercial Pilot Licence Course at 

the Civil Aviation Training Centre. 

In 2005, he earned his wings as a 

pilot for the Boeing 737-400, and 

received a pilot certificate from 

the Department of Civil Aviation. 

In May 2009, he celebrated 3,000 

hours of commercial flight time on 

the Boeing 737-400. 

Prior to His Majesty’s accession 

to the throne, he held the ranks of 

General in the Royal Thai Army, 

Admiral in the Royal Thai Navy and 

Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Thai 

Air Force. 

Upholder of the 

Buddhist Religion 

His Majesty strongly upholds the 

tenets of Buddhism. On November 

6, 1978, he was ordained as a 

monk at the age of 26, with a 

ceremony at the ordination hall 

of the Temple of the Emerald 

Buddha. He was given the name 

“Vajiralongkornno” and went 

on to stay at Wat Bovoranives 

Vihara for 15 days, during which 

His Majesty devoted himself to 

Buddhist studies. He also went 

out for alms in many places 

and strictly followed Buddhist 

practices as a monk. 

Over the years as Crown Prince, 

His Majesty accompanied his 

father, the late King Bhumibol, 

to several religious events. When 

King Bhumibol took on fewer 

public engagements because of 

frail health, the Crown Prince 

stepped in to perform religious 

rituals on his behalf. 

In his show of commitment 

to the Thai people, we wish His 

Majesty a blessed and 

prosperous reign.

เมื่อวันที่ 1 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2559 สมเด็จพระบรม- 

โอรสาธิราชฯ สยามมกุฎราชกุมาร ทรงมีพระราชดำารัส 

ตอบรับการขึ้นครองราชย์ ตามคำากราบบังคมทูลเชิญ 

ของประธานสภานิติบัญญัติแห่งชาติ ทำ าหน้าที่ประธาน 

รัฐสภา นับเป็นย่างก้าวสำาคัญสู่หน้าประวัติศาสตร์ใหม่ของ 

ประเทศไทยภายใต้รัชกาลที่ 10 หลังจากที่พระบาทสมเด็จ 

พระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช ผู้ทรงเป็นที่รักยิ่งของ 

ปวงชนชาวไทยเสด็จสวรรคตเมื่อวันที่ 13 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 

2559 โดยทรงมีพระราชโองการโปรดเกล้าโปรดกระหม่อม 

ให้เฉลิมพระปรมาภิไธยว่า “สมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัวมหาวชิรา- 

ลงกรณ บดินทรเทพยวรางกูร” 

พระราชประวัติโดยสังเขป 

สมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัวมหาวชิราลงกรณ 

บดินทรเทพยวรางกูร เป็นพระราชโอรส 

เพียงพระองค์เดียว ในพระบาทสมเด็จพระ 

ปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช และสมเด็จ 

พระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ พระบรมราชินีนาถ ทรง 

พระราชสมภพ เมื่อวันที่ 28 กรกฎาคม 

พ.ศ. 2495 ณ พระที่นั่งอัมพรสถาน 

พระราชวังดุสิต 

ทรงมีพระนามตามที่ สมเด็จพระ 

วชิรญาณวงศ์ สมเด็จพระสังฆราชเจ้าองค์ 

ที่ 13 แห่งรัตนโกสินทร์ถวายว่า “สมเด็จ 

พระเจ้าลูกยาเธอ เจ้าฟ้าวชิราลงกรณ บรม 

จักรยาดิศรสันตติวงศ์ เทเวศธำ ารงสุบริบาล 

อภิคุณูประการมหิตลาดุลเดช ภูมิพล 

นเรศวรางกูร กิตติสิริสมบูรณสวางควัฒน์ 

บรมขัตติยราชกุมาร” 

ตั้งแต่ยังทรงพระเยาว์ ทรงโปรดใน 

ความเป็นระเบียบเรียบร้อย และทรงสน 

พระทัยในเรื่องการทหารเป็นอย่างมาก 

บางครั้งจะเสด็จไปยังกองทหารรักษาการณ์ 

รับสั่งถามถึงการกินอยู่ ทรงตรวจสอบการ 

แต่งกายและความเป็นระเบียบของทหาร 

ทรงเคารพในกฎระเบียบ ไม่ทรงฝ่าฝืนข้อ 

บังคับหรือคำ าสั่งใดๆ และเมื่อเจริญพระวัย 

ขึ้นก็ยิ่งทรงมีวินัยมากยิ่งขึ้น 

เมื่อทรงเจริญพระชนมายุครบ 20 

พรรษา ทรงได้รับการสถาปนาเป็น สมเด็จ 

พระบรมโอรสาธิราชฯ สยามมกุฎราชกุมาร 

ในวันที่ 28 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2515 

เมื่อพระชนมายุได้ 4 พรรษา ทรง 

เข้ารับการศึกษา ณ โรงเรียนจิตรลดา ใน 

พระราชวังดุสิต จนถึงชั้นมัธยมศึกษาปีที่ 1 

จากนั้นได้เสด็จพระราชดำ าเนินไปทรงศึกษา 

ต่อที่โรงเรียนคิงส์มีด เมืองซีฟอร์ด แคว้น 

ซัสเซกส์ และที่โรงเรียนมิลฟิลด์ เมือง 

สตรีท แคว้นซอมเมอร์เซท ประเทศ 

อังกฤษ ตามลำาดับ 

จากการที่ทรงสนพระราชหฤทัยใน 

กิจการทหารเป็นอย่างมาก พระบาทสมเด็จ 

พระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช พระ 

ราชบิดา จึงทรงพระกรุณาโปรดเกล้าฯ ให้ 

เสด็จพระราชดำาเนินจากประเทศอังกฤษไป 

ทรงศึกษาวิชาทหารยังประเทศออสเตรเลีย 

โดยขั้นแรกทรงเข้ารับการศึกษาในโรงเรียน 

คิงส์สกูล นครซิดนีย์ ก่อนจะทรงเข้า 

ศึกษาในวิทยาลัยการทหารที่ ดันทรูน กรุง 

แคนเบอร์รา โดยทรงสำาเร็จหลักสูตรในภาค 

วิชาการทหารด้วยยศร้อยโท และสำ าเร็จการ 

ศึกษาในภาควิชาสามัญ สาขาอักษรศาสตร์ 

เมื่อ พ.ศ. 2519 

นอกจากนั้น ทรงเข้ารับการฝึกฝนและ 

ศึกษาวิชาทางการทหารเพิ่มเติมเกี่ยวกับ 

การกระโดดร่ม อาวุธยุทธวิธี การรบพิเศษ 

การลาดตระเวน การบินขับไล่ทางยุทธวิธีขั้น 

พื้นฐานและขั้นสูงจากประเทศออสเตรเลีย 

และสหรัฐอเมริกา ทั้งยังทรงเข้าศึกษาใน 

โรงเรียนเสนาธิการทหารบกของไทยจน 

ครบหลักสูตร ทรงเข้ารับราชการเป็นนาย 

ทหารประจำากรมข่าวทหารบก และในปี 

พ.ศ. 2531 ทรงดำารงตำาแหน่งผู้บัญชาการ 

หน่วยบัญชาการทหารมหาดเล็กราชวัลลภ 

รักษาพระองค์ 

ด้วยพระปรีชาสามารถด้านการบิน 

สมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัวมหาวชิราลงกรณ 

บดินทรเทพยวรางกูร ทรงได้รับการยกย่องว่า 

เป็น “เจ้าฟ้านักบินขับไล่ไอพ่น” พระองค์ 

แรกแห่งราชวงศ์จักรี ทรงทำ าการบินกับ 

เครื่องบินของกองทัพอากาศทุกรูปแบบ 

และได้ทรงพระราชทานการฝึกสอน 

ถ่ายทอดวิชาความรู้และเทคนิคการบินสมัย 

ใหม่ให้แก่นักบินกองทัพอากาศ นอกจาก 

นั้น ทรงเข้ารับการศึกษาหลักสูตรการบิน 

พลเรือน ทรงฝึกบินในฐานะนักบินโบอิ้ง 

737-400 จนทรงได้รับใบอนุญาตนักบิน 

พาณิชย์เอก 

ก่อนขึ้นทรงราชย์ ทรงดำ ารงพระยศ 

พลเอก พลเรือเอก และพลอากาศเอก 

ในกองทัพบก กองทัพเรือ และกองทัพ 

อากาศ ตามลำาดับ 

ด้านศาสนา ทรงมีพระราชหฤทัยศรัทธา 

เลื่อมใสในพระพุทธศาสนาอย่างมั่นคง 

ทรงผนวชตามพระราชประเพณี เมื่อวันที่ 6 

พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2521 ณ พระอุโบสถ 

วัดพระศรีรัตนศาสดาราม จากนั้นเสด็จไป 

ประทับ ณ วัดบวรนิเวศวิหาร ตลอดระยะ 

เวลาที่ทรงผนวช ทรงสำ ารวมและปฏิบัติ 

ตามพระธรรมวินัยอย่างเคร่งครัด ทรงพระ 

ดำาเนินด้วยพระบาทไปทรงรับภัตตาหาร 

บิณฑบาตจากผู้ที่ทูลเกล้าฯ ถวายตามที่ 

ต่างๆ หลังจากทรงปฏิบัติพระองค์อย่าง 

เคร่งครัดในสมณสารูปครบ 15 วันแล้ว 

จึงทรงประกาศลาสิกขา โดยทรงเสด็จ 

พระราชดำาเนินแทนพระราชบิดาไปทรง 

บำาเพ็ญพระราชกุศลและประกอบพระราช 

พิธีต่างๆ ทางพระพุทธศาสนาอยู่เนืองๆ 

ด้วยพระราชหฤทัยอันแน่วแน่ที่จะทรง 

ปกครองแผ่นดินไทยและปวงชนชาวไทย 

ให้อยู่ดีมีสุข ข้าพระพุทธเจ้า สายการบิน 

บางกอกแอร์เวย์ส และนิตยสารฟ้าไทย 

ขอถวายพระพร ขอพระองค์ทรงพระเจริญ 

ยิ่งยืนนาน 

Photos: Thewin Chanyawong

Welcome On Board 

letter from the president 

Happy New Year to you all. 

Last year marked a momentous 

change and transition for Thailand. 

We lost a beloved “Father of the 

Nation,” His Majesty the late King 

Bhumibol Adulyadej and our country 

continues to mourn. 

Yet our spirits have been lifted 

as his heir has acceded to the 

throne and we congratulate our 

new sovereign, His Majesty King 

Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun. 

With our new 

ruler, we usher in a new golden era 

of the Chakri Dynasty. 

On behalf of Bangkok Airways, 

Asia’s Boutique Airline, I’d like to 

welcome you to the year 2017 

and also the Lunar New Year of the 

Rooster. We wish you have many 

chances to travel as a way to 

energise yourself both physically 

and mentally, and to be ready for a 

good start in all aspects of life and 

throughout the year. 

Bangkok Airways is committed 

to giving passengers our very best 

service. Last year, we opened new 

routes; with direct flights from 

Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son and 

from Bangkok to Danang thereby 

making it more convenient for all 

passengers. This year, we plan to 

upgrade our services to meet your 

needs for more travel satisfaction. 

In 2016, we obtained 7 of the 

latest ATR72-600 planes to join 

our fleet, increasing capacity to 

service both domestic and Southeast 

Asian routes. 

For this year, we’re improving 

our inflight menus and presenting 

the concept of a “Thai Asean 

Menu,” with Thai and Asean gastronomy 

classics such as Tom Yum 

Kung, Seafood Somtam, Thai Green 

Curry with Chicken and Chicken 

Massaman Curry. The menu is 

created by renowned Thai chef, 

ML Sirichalerm Svasti (Chef McDang), 

in support of the government travel 

policy to promote Thai culture and 

cuisine. We hope our passengers 

will be impressed with this special 

service. 

On behalf of the Bangkok 

Airways committee, executives and 

staff, I would like to thank every 

one of you from all over the world 

who voted in support of Bangkok 

Airways for the Skytrax, Smart 

Travel Asia and the TGG Travel 

Awards. 

Finally, I’d like to wish all of you 

happiness in the journey of life 

throughout the year. We hope to 

continue to be a part of it and to 

have the opportunity to give you 

service that is unique and done to 

the best of our ability. 

สวัสดีปีใหม่ครับทุกท่าน 

ปีที่ผ่านมาเป็นปีที่ประเทศไทยมาถึงจุดเปลี่ยนผ่านครั้ง 

ยิ่งใหญ่ นับเป็นความสูญเสียของคนทั้งชาติที่พระบาทสมเด็จ 

พระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช รัชกาลที่ 9 เสด็จสวรรคต 

แต่แผ่นดินทองของเราก็ได้รับพระมหากรุณาธิคุณจากสมเด็จ 

พระเจ้าอยู่หัวมหาวชิราลงกรณ บดินทรเทพยวรางกูร รัชกาล 

ที่ 10 ที่ได้ทรงตอบรับเป็นพระมหากษัตริย์พระองค์ใหม่ของแผ่น 

ดินไทย ปวงข้าพระพุทธเจ้าทั้งหลาย ขอพระองค์ทรงพระเจริญ 

ยิ่งยืนนาน 

ผมในนามของสายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส เอเชีย บูทีค 

แอไลน์ ขอกล่าวต้อนรับท่านผู้โดยสารทุกท่านเข้าสู่ปี 

พุทธศักราช 2560 หวังว่าทุกท่านได้มีโอกาสเดินทางพักผ่อน 

เติมพลังชีวิตเพื่อเริ่มต้นปี 2560 ด้วยสุขภาพกายแข็งแรง 

สุขภาพใจที่สดชื่นนะครับ สายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส ยังคง 

มุ่งมั่นในการบริการจากใจ เพื่อสร้างความประทับใจให้กับการ 

เดินทางของทุกท่าน โดยเมื่อปีที่ผ่านมาเราได้มีการเพิ่มเส้นทาง 

บินใหม่ เส้นทางบินตรง เชียงใหม่-แม่ฮ่องสอน และ กรุงเทพ- 

ดานัง (ไป-กลับ) เพื่อการเดินทางสะดวกสบายรวดเร็วยิ่งขึ้น 

ส่วนปี 2560 นี้บริษัทฯ มีแผนการพัฒนาการบริการ 

ต่างๆ เพื่อเตรียมพร้อมที่จะตอบสนองความต้องการของผู้ 

โดยสาร โดยเมื่อปี 2559 นี้เราได้รับเครื่องบินแบบ ATR72-600 

รุ่นใหม่ล่าสุดสำหรับให้บริการมาแล้วทั้งสิ้นจำนวน 7 ลำ จาก 

จำนวนสั่งซื้อใหม่ทั้งหมด 9 ลำ เข้ามาเพิ่มในฝูงบิน ซึ่งเป็นหนึ่ง 

ในการเตรียมความพร้อมและยกระดับความสามารถในการให้ 

บริการ ทั้งเส้นทางบินภายในประเทศและภายในภูมิภาคเอเชีย 

ตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ นอกเหนือจากนี้การบริการอาหารบนเครื่อง 

บินประจำปี 2560 ที่นำเสนอภายใต้แนวคิด “Thai Asean Menu” 

ที่ชูความเป็นไทยและกลิ่นอายของความเป็นเอเชีย อาทิเช่น 

ส้มตำกุ้ง ต้มยำทะเล แกงเขียวหวานไก่ มัสมั่นไก่ เป็นต้น โดย 

แนวคิดดังกล่าว ม.ล. ศิริเฉลิม สวัสดิวัตน์ (เชฟหมึกแดง) ได้ 

สร้างสรรค์ขึ้นเพื่อสนับสนุนนโยบายของภาครัฐในการส่งเสริม 

เรื่องการท่องเที่ยวของประเทศ เราหวังเป็นอย่างยิ่งว่าผู้โดยสาร 

จะรู้สึกประทับใจกับบริการพิเศษนี้นะครับ 

ผมในฐานะตัวแทนคณะกรรมการ ผู้บริหารและพนักงาน 

ทุกคนขอแสดงความขอบคุณสำหรับทุกๆ คะแนนโหวตจาก 

ผู้โดยสารทั่วโลกที่ทำให้สายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์สได้รับ 

รางวัลจาก Skytrax, Smart Travel Asia และ TTG Travel 

Award รางวัลเหล่านี้นับเป็นกำลังใจให้เรามุ่งมั่นพัฒนางาน 

ด้านบริการต่อไป สุดท้ายนี้ขออวยพรให้ผู้โดยสารทุกท่านมี 

ความสุขทั้งสุขภาพร่างกายและจิตใจ ประสบความสำเร็จตลอดปี 

2560 โดยสายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส ขอเป็นส่วนหนึ่งที่จะ 

ช่วยคอยดูแลและบริการผู้โดยสารทุกท่านด้วยความเต็มใจและ 

เต็มความสามารถตลอดไป 

Sincerely, 

Captain Putthipong Prasarttong-Osoth 

President, Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited 

14 Fah Thai

Contents 

OUR NEW KING 

OVERTURES 

Features 

Thailand finds much to 

celebrate with a new 

sovereign, His Majesty 

King Maha Vajiralongkorn 

Bodindradebayavarangkun. 

A life in photos traces 

candid scenes with 

members of the royal family 

and days of royal duties and 

aviation training. 

24 Connect 

From the new year candlelights 

created during Meak Bocha 

to the shine of a lacquerware 

exhibit, know what’s causing a 

cultural stir around you. 

28 beautify 

Carry on in style with 

discoveries of the latest 

fragrances and the greatest tips 

to maximize your looks with 

long-lasting makeup brands, 

especially during this season of 

festivities and love. 

30 STYLE 

Be a stylish globetrotter 

with the latest ensembles 

and accessories easily put 

together from the newest 

fashion offerings. 

32 Good Cooks 

Make it a cosy Chinese New 

Year gathering with a double 

recipe feature of Tom Yum 

Kung and Chinese Dumplings. 

With easy instructions from 

Chef Alyssa, impressive 

results are guaranteed. 

40 Chinese treats 

How you love that nian gao 

cake you’ve been savouring 

during Chinese New Year 

depends on whether it’s 

made from a traditional 

recipe in Guangdong or 

elsewhere in China. Learn 

which dialect group’s varying 

traditions still translate into 

the same meaning and fun. 

48 Fantasy Realm 

Floor to soaring ceiling 

display windows in New 

York offer up a fantasy world 

of merchandising done in 

surprising ways. We talk 

about how ‘paper cuts’ and 

their aesthetic assemblage 

create all things great and 

small in store windows. 

56 Another Road 

A recently screened 

movie inspired a long 

and adventurous roadtrip 

to Mandalay. Colonial 

history and unexpected 

nature deepens a writer’s 

connection to Myanmar. 

64 Awakening 

A visit to Koh Samui can 

go beyond the worship 

of the sea and sun to 

learning the practice 

of loving kindness. It 

takes just a few days 

at the Dipabhavan 

Meditation Centre to be 

enlightened. 

72 Rising Up 

Bagan always moves 

in mystical ways when 

you soar above the 

countryside in a hot air 

balloon. Photographer 

Simon Bond captures 

the magic at dawn’s 

early light. 

72 

Balloons 

Over Bagan 

16 Fah Thai 

11 17

Contents 

Happenings 

Corporate 

Our insider access to goings on in the region, 

plus tips in entertainment and getaway 

destinations. 

84 Bangkok 

88 CHIANG MAI 

92 SAMUI 

96 PHUKET 

98 PATTAYA 

100 HONGKONG 

104 SINGAPORE 

106 KUALA 

LUMPUR 

107 MYANMAR 

108 Danang/ 

Siem Reap 

110 MUMBAI 

112 MALDIVES 

116 news 

Bangkok Airways events and outings 

126 ROUTE MAP 

CHecking out 

Guangzhou’s rising metropolis blends 

traditional places and futuristic spaces 

This month’s 

cover: 

King Rama X 

of the Chakri 

Dynasty 

LONG LIVE THE KING 

56 

Find Your Way 

to Mandalay’s 

Treasured Spots 


The Team 

BANGKOK AIRWAYS PUBLIC 

COMPANY LIMITED 

99 Mu 14, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, 

Chom Phon, Chatuchak, Bangkok 

10900, Thailand 

www.bangkokair.com 

ADVISORY BOARD 

Mr. Prote Setsuwan 

Vice President - Marketing 

Ms. Sumalee Chaitientong 

Vice President - Ancillary Revenues 

Mr. Kridhakorn Sirabhabhoj 

Director Advertising and Creative 

Mr. Benjamin Sirirat 

Manager - Branding and Creative 

PUBLISHER 

MPMI Group Ltd. 

1 Soi Lasalle 23/2, 

Bangna, Bangkok 10260, Thailand 

Tel. +66 2 744 4975 

Fax. +66 2 744 5271 

Managing Director 

Chaovanee Ajanant 

Email: chaovanee@mpmith.com 

EDITORIAL 

Email: editorial@fahthaimag.com 

Editorial Director Somtawin Chanyawong 

Editor-in-Chief Anutra Ungsuprasert 

Senior Editor Nawa Acosta Wright 

Associate Editor Rathaya Atthaoraek 

Contributors 

Kay Choomongkol 

Thomas Tsui 

Nawa Acosta Wright 

Chalotorn Payomyol 

Simon Bond 

Tanistha Dansilp 

Nadia Willan 

Anjira Assavanonda 

Photo Editor Thewin Chanyawong 

Contributing Photographers 

Chantich Chuaychoo 

Ricky Zehavi 

Jesper Haynes 

Dolnapa Ram-Indra 

Thitiphan Kantawilaskul 

ART 

Creative Director JyeShen Koo 

Graphic Designer Pongtorn Khaoplag 

Contributing Stylist Saranya Ariyakul 

Production 

Colour Separation: Soontorn Film 

Printer: WPS (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 

ADVERTISING 

advertising@fahthaimag.com 

Media Director: Pradub Prasertsri 

Advertising Hotlines 

Bangkok: Chaovanee 092-270-9528 

Samui: Penzy 087-055-7048 

OVERSEAS ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES 

Australia 

The Media Company 

Leanne Richardson 

Tel: +612 9909 5800 

leanne@themediaco.com.au 

cambodia, laos, 

myanmar 

Kittikun Adunsirisaward 

Tel: +668 9468 2440 

kittikun@bangkokair.com 

Hathaiwan Chieochankitjakan 

Tel: +668 6900 5278 

hathaiwan@bangkokair.com 

CHINA,HONG KONG, 

MACAU 

China Media Options 

Co., Ltd. 

Rebecca Tsang-Pereira 

Tel: +852 2321 9788 

rebeccaCMOsupport@gmail.com 

france, germany, 

switzerland 

Infopac Media House 

Jean Charles Abeille. 

Tel: +331 4643 0066 

jcabeille@infopac.fr 

india, maldives 

RMA Media 

Faredoon Kuka 

Tel: +9122 2925 3735 

kuka@rmamedia.com 

Korea 

Medirep Co. 

Soohoon Oh 

Tel: +822 734 0786 

soohoonoh@medireponline.com 

Japan 

Publicitas Japan K.K. 

Hiroko Minato 

Tel: +8150 8882 3456 

hiroko.minato@publicitas.com 

Malaysia 

MPMI Sdn Bhd 

Alvin Tan 

Tel: +603 7880 2185 

mpmimy@gmail.com 

Singapore, indonesia 

MPMI Pte Ltd 

S. S. Hoo 

Tel: +65 6464 6261 

mpmisg@gmail.com 

United Kingdom 

Major Media Ltd. 

David Hammond 

Tel: +44(0) 20 8467 8884 

david@majormedia.co.uk 

USA 

The Multimedia Inc. 

Fernando Mariano 

Tel: +14 0790 3500 

fmar@multimediausa.com 

“FAH THAI” is the in-flight magazine of Bangkok Airways Public Company 

Limited and is edited and published by MPMI Group Ltd. All articles and 

photographs published herein are created by the authors and photographers 

at their own discretion and do not necessarily represent the views of the 

airline. Bangkok Airways holds no responsibility or liability arising out of the 

publication of such articles and photographs. 

All information correct at press time. All rights reserved. No part of this 

magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in 

any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Bangkok 

Airways Public Company Limited and MPMI Group Ltd. 


Overture 

Essential Notes To Guide Your Travels 

Chinese New Year 

Make your world a ‘redder’ 

place with our primer for the 

Chinese new year. Create a 

festive meal, increase your 

cultural insight and gather 

essential knowledge to keep 

you au courant. 

News and events 24 / beauty and health 28 / style 30 / on the menu 32 / fruitful finds 34 / arts & cultural matters 36 

23

Overtures 

news and events 

12-14 

jan 2017 

MALAYSIA 

CAFE MALAYSIA 2017 

This is the 3rd time around for the 

international exhibition of cafe equipment, 

supplies & technology to be held in KL. 

Cafe Malaysia 2017 lets coffee industry 

professionals source supplies, discover 

business opportunities, as well as stay 

up-to-date with the latest innovations and 

developments in the coffee business. The 

event also seeks talented baristas to compete 

and the winner of this year will represent 

Malaysia on the world stage. cafe-malaysia.com 

DIGITAL 

MARKETING 

WORLD FORUM 

The constantly 

evolving world 

of digital and 

social marketing is 

providing business 

professionals new 

and effective 

ways to sell their 

products. Join global 

marketing leaders in 

discussing exciting 

new challenges in a 

2-day forum held at 

Singapore’s iconic 

Marina Bay Sands. 

At the same time, 

virtual reality experts 

will be gathering for 

a summit at 

the Suntec 

Convention and 

Exhibition Centre. 

digitalmarketingconference.com, 

virtualrealitysummit. 

com 

28-30 


LAOS 

LAO FOOD FESTIVAL 

The Lao Women’s Union and Lao 

Businesswomen’s Association are holding 

the 11th Lao Food Festival in Vientiane. 

Everyone is invited to come along and 

sample a variety of delicious and unique 

dishes found in Lao cuisine. Much of the 

cuisine is centred around traditional staples 

like sticky rice, soup or noodle-based dishes, 

but you can also expect the presence 

of internationally influenced foods like 

baguettes. tourismlaos.org 

NOW UNTIL 

23 


HONG KONG 

The World Of Tim Burton 

If you are a fan of Tim Burton, don’t miss this! 

This fantastical exhibition features a collection 

of over 500 original items and creations from 

the legendary film director’s work. This film 

director/artist has been the brains behind films 

like Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before 

Christmas, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and 

many more. This unique exhibit will be presented 

in sections that examine Burton’s themes, motifs 

and projects. All creations are curated from 

his personal archives, starting from the artist’s 

childhood to the present day. 

theworldoftimburton.hk 

12-15 


singapore 

SINGAPORE MOTORSHOW 

Save the date for the Singapore 

Motorshow. The 4-day event is 

expected to wow car enthusiasts with 

more than 20 top vehicle brands, 

automotive accessories, lifestyle 

products and services and much more 

in the automotive-related industries. 

This year’s tickets are priced at $6 per 

entry on weekdays and $8 per entry on 

weekends with complimentary tickets for 

children. motorshow.com.sg 


25

Overtures 

news and events 

18-19 

FEB 2017 

THAILAND 

BANGKOK EDGE 

BangkokEdge Festival, Bangkok’s now 

popular ideas festival is back! This year’s 

festival is loaded with activities like 

talk sessions led by acclaimed Thai and 

international speakers on various topics 

ranging from literature, urban culture, 

environment, design, urban development 

to technology. There also are creative 

workshops, cooking demonstrations, 

a short film competition and music 

performances by leading Thai artists. 

bangkokedge.com 

16 


MALE 

MIDNIGHT RUN 2017 

If you love running and enjoy doing it in 

the darkness of the night, this is definitely 

the right event for you! Organised by 

AKH Eventus, it is the Maldives Island’s 

only midnight run and one of the biggest 

annual running events in the country. Join 

a community of both skilled and amateur 

runners to accomplish a new goal. You 

can choose to participate in the 5K, 10K 

and 21K half marathon and is open to 

everyone. facebook.com/MaleMidnightRun 

1- 

28 


THAILAND 

Chiang Mai Flower Festival 

Every year Chiang Mai organises the flower festival 

which features beautiful blooms and decorative plants 

from the area. The festival celebrates the glory of the 

flora which blossoms around the end of Thailand’s 

winter season, sometime in early February. The venue 

is transformed into an open-air exhibition centre 

which boasts magnificent floral displays. A highlight 

will be the decorated floats that parade around the city 

to show off the vibrantly coloured flowers, complete 

with entertainment such as traditional dances. 

tourismthailand.org 

16- 


18 

MAR 2017 

HONG KONG 

HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL 

This year sees the 45th edition of Hong 

Kong’s Arts Festival, renowned for 

the diversity of its performances from 

contemporary ballet to Cantonese opera. 

Highlights in February include the Czech 

opera and orchestral music, dances from 

the Bavarian State Ballet and a mix of 

funk, rock and jazz performances with 

American drummer and diva Terri Lyne 

Carrington. hk.artsfestival.org 


Overtures 

Beauty and health 

IN FULL 

BLOOM 

STOCKISTs 

SPOTLIGHT 

A woman in love 

and a bottle of floral 

fragrance equal the 

perfect match. For 

every date that counts, 

the fragrance of 

blooming flowers are 

always a nice touch for 

romance. 

Calvin Klein 

M Floor, Siam Paragon 

Tel. +66 (0) 2 690 1000 

Miu Miu 

G Floor, Central Embassy 

Tel. +66 (0) 2 160 5748 

Prada G Floor, 

Central Embassy 

Tel. +66 (0) 2 160 5744 

Mimosa Eau de Toilette 

100ml from Prada 

(5,400 Baht) 

Available in the iconic 

vintage bottle, this alluring 

scent is dedicated to the 

striking mimosa blossom 

with notes of a woodsy 

base. It’s a classic twist! 

Miu Miu Eau de Toilette 

50ml from Miu Miu 

(3,950 baht) 

The first Miu Miu 

fragrance emphasises 

the combination of lily 

of the valley and the 

Akigalawood®. It’s natural 

and timeless in a very 

contemporary way. 

Iris Eau de Toilette 

100ml from Prada 

(5,400 Baht) 

Another classic design 

from the Prada house. 

The fresh scent of the iris 

flower defines the new Eau 

de Parfum as the perfect 

touch for every date. 

Eternity Eau de Toilette 

100ml from Calvin Klein 

(3,000 Baht) 

Suitable for everyday wear, 

this feminine fragrance 

brings out the romance and 

charm of orange blossom 

and bergamot. 

Candy Florale Eau de 

Toilette 80ml from 

Prada 

(5,300 Baht) 

This Candy collection is 

an exciting floral blend 

containing notes of 

limoncello sorbet, peony and 

musk. It‘s just like smelling 

a bouquet of flowers sitting 

on the counter of an ice 

cream shop. 

Words ALEXIS Style Saranya Ariyakul Photo Chantich chuayChoo 

Flawless First Date 

Because first impressions count, be sure to get your makeup right. 

These are the best helpers that never let you down. 

It’s such a celebration as Guerlain has just launched an exclusive 

edition of Météorites Perles de Légende! Formulated with a diamond 

powder in microspheres, the three shades can create a pure and 

endless glow on your skin. While pink is for refreshing, gold for 

illumination, and blue for colour-correction, the pearls are delicately 

fragranced with a note of violet and housed in a precious new case 

with a blue and gold design. 

‘Capture Totale 

- DreamSkin’ 

Perfect Skin 

Cushion Broad 

Spectrum SPF 50 

from Dior 

(2,800 Baht) 

The first 24-hour wear 

foundation for lasting 

perfection. The result 

is a long-lasting clear 

complexion perfect for 

when lovebirds meet. 

Radiant Creamy Concealer 

from Nars (1,290 Baht) 

An exclusive version with three shades to 

colour-correct and illuminate your skin. 

Dinner will be wonderful with the added 

glow of your face! 

Couleurs Couture’ 

Eyeshadow Palette from 

Dior (2,700 Baht) 

The ultimate accessory for a perfectly 

sculpted face. Its formula highlights 

your facial contours and makes them 

more impressive than ever. 

‘Diorblush’ 

Light & 

Contour 

Sculpting Stick 

Duo from Dior 

(1,550 Baht) 

This beauty tool uses 

a formula enriched 

with microfibres to 

reproduce the effect 

of lash extensions. Its 

wax texture coats the 

lashes for even more 

shape and volume. 

‘Teint Idole 

Ultra 24H’ 

Wear & 

Comfort 

Retouch- 

Free Divine 

Perfection 

Makeup 

SPF 15 from 

Lancôme 

(price upon 

request) 

The legendary 

palette that gives 

free rein to your 

creativity to achieve 

your perfect makeup 

results. Bring your 

confidence up! 

28 Fah Thai 29

Overtures 

STYLE 

Vivid 

Wonder 

Lovey- 

Dovey 

When the boys are in 

love, getting dressed in 

colourful shades brings 

a good sign for every 

relationship. It’s playful 

yet charming! 

FOR HIM 

Clutch from 

Kate Spade (5,900 Baht) 

Sunglasses from Coach 

(9,200 Baht) 

Passport holder 

from Jack Spade 

(7,550 Baht) 

Necktie from 

Jack Spade (6,550 Baht) 

Shorts from 


Long-sleeved pullover 

from Scotch & Soda 

(4,995 Baht) 

Card holder from 


Jacket from 

Scotch & Soda (12,995 Baht) 

Leather sneakers 

from Coach (14,500 Baht) 

STOCKISTs 

Coach 

1st Floor, 

Zone Groove, 

Central World 

Tel. +66 (0) 2 646 1263 

Jack Spade 

1st Floor, 

Zone Atrium, 

Central World 

Tel. +66 (0) 2 658 6574 

Scotch & Soda 

2nd Floor, 

Central Embassy 

Tel. +66 (0) 2 160 5807 

words ALEXIS Style Saranya Ariyakul Photos Chantich Chuaychoo 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

words alexis Style Saranya Ariyakul Photos Chantich Chuaychoo 

Let’s spread your girlish 

love around with 

clothes and accessories 

that shine their vibrant 

and sweet colours. 

By that way of 

expression, love would 

be defined even more! 

FOR HER 

top Handle bag from 

Kloset (15,550 Baht) 

Sunglasses from 


Glitter high heels from 

Chiara Ferragni @ Disaya 

(14,950 Baht) 

iphone case from 


Necklace from 

Kloset (8,850 Baht) 

Diary from 


Long-sleeved top 

from Matter Makers 

(price upon request) 

Bag from 

Jimmy Choo (52,400 Baht) 

Shorts from Kloset 

(price upon request) 

STOCKISTS 

Chiara Ferragni @ Disaya 

2nd Floor, Zone Groove, 

Central World 

Tel. +66 (0) 2 646 1828 

Jimmy Choo 

M Floor, Siam Paragon 

Tel. +66 (0) 2 610 9944 

Kate Spade 

1st Floor, Zone Atrium, 

Central World 

Tel. +66 (0) 2 646 1260 

Kloset 

3rd Floor, Siam Centre 

Tel. +66 (0) 2 658 1729 

Matter Makers 

G Floor, Siam Centre 


Overtures 

on the menu 

A Feast 

from the Soul 

A meeting of two cultural favourites creates the 

perfect celebration meal. 

After years of being away from Thailand, 

time came for Chef Alyssa Han to return 

to her motherland. Always in the 

comfort of the culinary world, she was 

a successful chef in Norway and Finland 

and also a restaurateur in both Shanghai 

and Hong Kong. Alyssa is now back, 

choosing Bangkok and Phetchaburi as the 

places to make her dreams come true. 

FAB-A, Food and Arts by Alyssa offers private cooking events 

in Bangkok and Phetchaburi; a town just two hours away from 

the Thai capital. Her programme includes visiting local farms, 

boat paddling in the nearby river and making mini clay stoves 

from scratch. 

For a taste of her talent, here is Chef Alyssa’s soulful recipe 

that can be easily done at home. She features a classic soup 

recipe from Thailand, known as Tom Yum Kung and Jiao Zi, the 

ever popular dumplings that originated in China. 

“As a chef, I created this fusion menu for the family to cook 

together. Since the Chinese New Year regularly takes place 

around January and February, Tom Yum Kung and Jiao Zi are 

one of the most traditional and popular dishes for both Thai and 

Chinese people to enjoy. 

“Tom Yum Kung is also a popular Thai dish for the Chinese 

people. It’s truly a meaningful way to celebrate the Chinese New 

Year in Thailand,” explained Chef Alyssa. 

For Dumpling Fillings: 

• 300g of chicken breast (finely chopped) 

• 200g of shrimp (coarsely chopped) 

• 1 tsp of finely chopped galangal 

• 1 tsp of finely chopped lemongrass 

• 1 tsp kaffir lime zest 

(use a cheese grater or microplane) 

• 1 finely julienned kaffir lime leaf 

• 1 egg 

• 1 tbsp of finely cut spring onions 

• 1 tbsp of fish sauce 

• 2 tsp of white sugar 

• 1 tsp of chilli paste 

(for a children’s version, skip the chilli paste) 

• 1 tbsp of tamarind juice (1 pulp squeezed 

in 1 cup of warm water) 

• 1 tsp of finely chopped garlic 

• 1 tbsp of finely chopped shallots 

• 50g of coriander leaves (2 bunches); 

cut and coat with 1 tsp of vegetable oil 

Mix all the above ingredients well. Chill for 1 

hour while making the wrappers. 

For the Dough 

(kids can join in the activity) 

• 300g of plain flour 

• 150ml water 

• Pinch of salt 

How to Make the 

Dumpling Wrappers 

(You can skip this part and buy dumpling 

wrappers from a supermarket) 

Mix the flour, salt and water together, 

then knead it into dough. When it feels 

bouncy and soft, let the dough rest for a 

while to get it to stretch better. 

Sprinkle all-purpose flour on the 

chopping board. Create a hole in the 

middle of the dough with your finger. 

Use the hole to grip and turn the dough 

until it becomes a circle. Find a spot to 

cut the dough into strips. Rub it to 

stretch and make the dough smaller, 

then cut into small pieces. (1 inch long) 

Time for the kids to help in 

making Jiao Zi wrappers 

Use your palm to flatten each piece, then 

use your thumb to hold the dough in the 

middle. And use your right hand to hold 

the rolling pin and roll it. Use your thumb 

to turn the dough and make the dough 

into a small round shape that is thick in the 

centre and thin at the edge. Sprinkle flour 

if the dough becomes sticky. Roll it until 

each small piece of the dumpling wrapper 

will be the same size of your palm. Make 

6 pieces; 3 pieces for one portion of the 

Tom Yum soup and 3 for your kids to eat 

(the kids can help you make more) after 

cooking them right away. 

How to Cook the Jiao Zi 

Cook the dumplings by boiling 3 cups 

of water for 6 pieces first. Sprinkle salt 

into the water while it is boiling in order 

to protect the wrapper from breaks and 

to make it chewy. Put the dumplings in 

one by one. Wait for few seconds then 

stir the water gently and don’t touch the 

dumplings directly. Fill the pot with cold 

water after the dumplings are boiled. The 

dumplings are fully cooked when they are 

floating and expand in size. Take them out 

to rest. 

Remarks: The kids can eat Joai Zi now with 

soy sauce. For adults, make a Thai chilli sauce 

by mixing 1 tsp of chilli paste (Phanthai 

Norasingh or Mae Pranom brand), 1 tsp of 

chopped shallots, 1 tsp of chopped galangal, 

1 tbsp of soy sauce, 1 tbsp of honey and 1 

lime wedge. Blend together well. 

What You Need for Tom Yum kung 

For the Tom Yum Soup, use the original clear 

broth for the dumplings. 

Ingredients for 2 Portions 

• Broth from boiling shrimp shell, 3 cups 

(Shrimp shells are from 200g of shrimp that were 

previously chopped for the filling: half for the broth, 

and half for frying.) 

• River Prawns (size 20g each), 4 pieces 

• Straw mushroom (cut in half ),3/4 cup 

• Lemongrass (young), 1 stalk 

• Kaffir lime leaves (young), 3 leaves 

• Coriander root, 1 root 

• Shallots (small), 5 bulbs 

• Fish sauce (preferrably Tipparos), 2 tbsp 

• Fresh lime juice, 2 tbsp 

• Small Thai chillies, 4 pieces 

• Fresh coriander, 1/2 cup 

• Thai chilli paste, 2 tsp 

• Palm sugar 1 tsp 

Steps to Soup 

Boil 3 cups of water with shrimp shells, and 

add 1 tsp of salt for 15-20 minutes under 

low heat. 

Separate and fry the shrimp fat with mild 

crushed peppers in 2 tsp of cooking oil. 

Clean the veins from the back of 4 river 

prawns. Leave the heads and tails. 

Diagonally cut the young lemongrass to the 

size of one bite; bind the old leaves into a 

bundle and pour on some lime juice. Tear the 

kaffir lime leaves from their veins; gently 

pound the coriander roots, just for them to 

break. Roughly cut the onions into small pieces; 

cut off the chilli stalks and break them open 

before soaking them in the lime juice. 

Filter the shrimp shell broth and boil it. Once 

the soup is boiled — add shrimps, mushrooms, 

coriander roots, onion, kaffir lime leaves, and 

fish sauce into the boiling soup. Once the soup 

is boiled, turn off the heat before putting and 

submerging the Thai chillies, lime juice and 

cilantro in the soup. 

Plate the Bowl 

Plating, which is the art of food presentation, is 

equally important to please the eye and sense 

of smell. Start by laying three cooked dumplings 

anywhere in the bowl, then add two prawns with 

their heads sitting past the rim. Ladle in the Tom 

Yum soup and garnish with coriander and chillies. 

For more information: 

www.foodandartsbyalyssa.com/contact-us 

For more information: www.foodandartsbyalyssa.com/contact-us 


Overtures 

on the menu / fruitful finds 

words & photos kay Choomongkol 

Oranges 

are for 

Auspiciousness 

Thai and Chinese cultures 

regard oranges as the symbolic 

fruit of luck and prosperity. 

This ‘golden’ fruit always takes 

the leading role on the dining 

table or presented as gifts or 

as offerings to spirits, gods and 

goddesses for every auspicious 

occasion. 

In Thailand, oranges ( called som) are available in 

fresh markets and supermarkets year round but 

January and February show off their richest tastes. 

The country is blessed with many varieties and 

the smallest and most sour kumquats or Som Jeed 

are used by Thai people to season and enhance 

meals. Also small but juicy is Som Sai Namphueng 

which possesses a smooth, thin skin but reveals a 

uniquely sharp yet sweet and sour flavour. Mid-size 

sweet oranges have a rough, thick skin known as 

Som Cheng with a pale yellow pulp. And don’t judge 

a orange by its unappealing skin! Even though Som 

Khiew Waan Bang Mod looks less attractive when 

compared to other types of oranges, it is highly 

appreciated for its unique and unbeatable honeyed 

taste. Consider yourself lucky if you find Som 

Khiew Waan these days – this local orange is fast 

disappearing due to its vulnerability to disease. 

Som Shogun is considered to be one of the 

most famous orange varieties in Thailand. This 

award-winning fruit has a stronger fragrance and 

flavour and is slightly bigger than Som Khiew Waan 

— but just as easy to hold and peel. Betong, the 

southernmost district of Thailand, has some of the 

finest quality Som Shogun because of its weather, 

soil and natural water resources and produces a 

superlative fruit that is globally coveted. 

All oranges are high in vitamin C, antioxidants 

and dietary fibre and help cool down body 

temperatures, reduce dehydration and is simply 

refreshing. So grab some oranges and try one that is 

special to Thailand! 


Overtures 

arts & cultural matters 

until 

Feb 

2017 

Heart 

to Art 

Maneerat Srikampa has gone 

beyond still life painting 

of food to portraits of her 

mother wearing a colourful 

sarong wrap. The artist got 

a pleasant surpirse when 

people responded favourably 

to her concept. In fact, people 

have asked to see more 

paintings with the colourful 

sarongs that women in Khon 

Kaen in Thailand wear, whose 

prints feature beautiful and 

unique batik patterns. Some 

of her paintings were bought 

by Malaysian art collectors 

who want to support artists in 

order to keep them working. 

“Like other watercolour 

artists, I began with painting 

beautiful flowers. Next came 

objects in my surroundings 

and from them, inspiration 

just pops in my head. It can 

even come from a head of 

garlic or an onion given by 

my mum when I visit her in 

Khon Kaen,” says Maneerat. 

She currently lives in the 

southern city of Hat yai but 

draws her inspiration from 

her hometown of Khon Kaen 

in Songkhla province. 

11 


1-28 


Cambodia 

Meak Bochea 

Just like Buddhists in Thailand, Loas and Myanmar, every year, Buddhists 

in Cambodia celebrate Meak Bochea Day on the full moon in the third 

month of the Khmer calendar. They join candlelight processions within 

temple grounds to commemorate the spontaneous visit of 1,250 

enlightened monks and to hear Buddha’s teachings on the three main 

principles dating back 2,500 years ago. You can join and observe a 

Buddhist temple ceremony or visit Oudong Mountain, located about 

45 kilometres north of Phnom Penh. Here, you’ll see hundreds of 

monks gather to perform Meak Bochea Day rituals on a grander scale. 

tourismcambodia.org 

THAILAND 

SUKHOTHAI SMILE 

The striking design of Mothana Ceramics may capture your eye at 

once. The company has been exclusively creating tableware to hotels 

in Phuket and Koh Samui for many years. They have been supplying to 

restaurants and gift shops since their establishment in 1999, straight out 

of Sukhothai, the oldest capital city of the Thai Kingdom. 

Not only are there various kinds of celadonglazed 

and oxide-glazed stoneware 

presented at their factory, but Mothana 

Ceramics also offers DIY activities for 

clients, children or adults to create their 

own pieces. Here, the fun and great 

experience is the chance to shape the 

clay and let your imagination run free. 

Mothana Ceramics: 9 Moo 12, Thung Siaw, 

Si Samrong, Sukhothai or call 

Khun Kai +66 (0) 94 714 6145 

19-20 


LATE EARLY 

Jan-Feb 

VIETNAM 

Welcoming the First 

Morning of the Year 

This is the most important celebration in 

Vietnamese culture. Tet (in short) means 

“the first morning of the first day” and is 

the Vietnamese version of the Lunar New 

Year, which originated in China. It takes 

place from the first day of the first month 

of the Vietnamese calendar (around late 

Jan or early Feb) until at least the third 

day. Many Vietnamese families prepare 

for Tet by cooking special foods, cleaning 

their homes, worshiping ancestors, wishing 

everyone New Year greetings and marking 

the occasion with family reunions. 

vietnamtourism.com 

SINGAPORE 

A Floating Feast of the Senses 

Ushering in the Chinese New Year of the Rooster, this iconic 

annual event is held on a floating platform at Singapore’s 

Marina Bay. This lively festival allows visitors to immerse 

themselves fully in Chinese culture by enjoying mouthwatering 

culinary delights to seeing giant lanterns handcrafted 

on site by experts from China. There will also be Chinese opera 

and street performances and – of course – that most Chinese 

of inventions: fabulous fireworks displays. yoursingapore.com 

Photo ERWIN SOO 


37

Overtures 

arts & cultural matters 

11 


HONG KONG 

Love and Spring is in the Air 

Falling on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, the Spring Lantern Festival is also 

known informally as the Chinese Valentine’s Day. In the past, singles would play 

matchmaking games on what is regarded as a particularly auspicious day. Nowadays, 

visitors can enjoy a visual array of beautiful coloured lanterns hung in numerous 

places, from parks to hotels, flower markets and restaurants. discoverhongkong.com 

Jan/ 

Feb 

HONG KONG 

BRUCE LEE, ART AND LIFE 

The life and work of 

legendary martial arts and 

film superstar Bruce Lee is 

celebrated at Hong Kong’s 

Heritage Museum, located 

in Sha Tin. Over 600 items 

of memorabilia mark the 

star not only as an actor and 

martial artist, but also as a 

true cultural phenomenon. 

In addition, visitors to the 

museum can take in beautiful 

Chinese paintings and trace 

the development of Cantonese 

opera. heritagemuseum.gov.hk 

1-28 


thailand 

All About the Gloss and 

Sheen of Lacquer 

“Vision to Lacquer” will present various types 

of lacquerware from countries known for the 

craft like Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia 

and Thailand. Visitors learn how sap from 

lacquer trees is obtained to the finished 

lacquerware pieces. On view are styles ranging 

from lacquered and gilded pieces with gold leaf 

to those decorated with glass or works with 

mother-of-pearl inlay. 

The ongoing show ends April 2017 at the 

International Crafts Gallery by the Support of the 

Arts and Crafts International Centre of Thailand 

or the SACICT. 


Chinese new year 

Words: Thomas Tsui 

The Gorgeous Diversity of Chinese New Year 


41


Bangkok’s 

Chinatown adopts 

an even more 

frenzied and festive 

air as it becomes 

the definitive 

place to load up on 

necessities for the 

Chinese New Year. 

Firecrackers, red 

envelopes, lion 

dances, symbolic 

fruits, blooms of 

flowers, festive foods 

and boisterous relatives 

— Chinese New Year 

can be a full-on sensory 

experience. From the 

outside, it might look like 

another cookie-cutter 

holiday. Yet the festival 

is actually celebrated very 

differently, varying from 

country to country and 

from one dialect group to 

another, with colourful 

customs and long-observed 

traditions. The holiday 

starts on the first day of the 

lunar calendar, marking the 

arrival of spring and end of 

winter with different dates 

each year. 

A Matter of Taste 

One of the many differences in 

celebration is most evident in 

the food prepared for the big day, 

and ethnic Chinese take their 

food seriously. 

The Old Market on Yaowarat 

Road, or Bangkok’s Chinatown, can 

be difficult to navigate days before 

Chinese New Year as Thai Chinese 

in the capital descend into the 

small alleys flanked by stalls selling 

fruits, pickles, sweets and anything 

remotely Chinese. Here, one of the 

most ubiquitous sight would be 

khanom kheng, or nian gao as it is 

called in Mandarin. 

The cake is made with glutinous 

rice and usually comes in a small 

cup made with folded dried leaves, 

looking like a rustic cupcake. 

Khanom kheng is sweet, with brown 

sugar thrown into the rice flour mix 

before steaming. The popular type 

of nian gao in Thailand can trace its 

roots back to Guangdong, since the 

majority of Thai Chinese ancestors 

hailed from the Southeastern part 

of China, notably from Teochew, 

Hakka, Hainanese and Cantonese 

dialect groups. 

DO’S and 

Don’ts of 

CHINESE 

NEW YEAR 


embodies many beliefs 

and traditions. So keep 

the following in mind 

to live a longer and 

prosperous life. 

Do’s 

Do clean your house 

before the New 

Year to ward off evil 

spirits. Gone with 

the old, welcome 

the new. 

Do wear red and 

bright coloured attire; 

don’t turn up in black, 

especially when 

visiting the older 

generation Chinese 

relatives. 

Do light up – literally 

and figuratively. 

The Lantern Festival 

marks the end of 


celebration. Lanterns 

of all shapes and 

sizes are lit and hung. 

This is a time when 

family members 

would gather again to 

meet and eat sweet 

dumplings. 

Don’ts 

On New Year’s day 

itself, don’t wash or 

cut hair or even do 

laundry. Doing so 

means washing away 

good luck for the 

coming year. The use 

of knives and scissors 

may lead to the 

cutting of fortune. 

Don’t say anything 

“bad” during the 


since verbal blunders 

are believed to have 

a negative effect 

on your life. Words 

like “Si” or “Four” in 

Chinese means “to 

die” so you must 

refrain from using the 

number four. 

Unlike its nian gao cousins in the 

north, particularly in Shanghai, it 

is never prepared as a savoury dish. 

Instead, Chinese mums – and it is 

usually the almighty mothers – who 

would dip it in egg before frying. 

Coating it further with sugar is 

optional. And unlike dessert in the 

West, khanom kheng is eaten with 

other main dishes. 

Food served during Chinese 

New Year always comes loaded 

with meaning. It is considered good 

luck to eat nian gao – which can be 

loosely translated as “reaching a 

new height every year” – for your 

career and wealth, not to mention 

the calorie level. 

Something Fishy 

The Chinese obsession with 

symbolism traverses borders. 

Yusheng, reportedly a Teochew- 

Cantonese hybrid dish, is practically 

unheard of in Thailand, but 

widely consumed in Malaysia and 

Singapore. 

Yusheng literally means raw fish. 

The pronunciation also sounds like 

“abundance,” hence the popularity. 

The dish reportedly came from the 

Chaoshan region, known for its 

bountiful seafood. Think fish ball 

noodles, fish maw soup, and fish 

porridge. The tradition started with 

fishermen coming back with their 

catch on the seventh day of the 

Chinese New Year. Fish is cut into 

thin slices and eaten fresh. 

Legend has it that the modern 

version of yusheng appeared on 

the culinary scene in the 1940s in a 

popular restaurant in Malaysia. It 

consists of 27 key ingredients, such 

as jellyfish, white radish, carrots, 

chopped peanuts, red pepper, 

turnips, red pickled ginger, toasted 

Places like 

Singapore and 

Malaysia loudly toss 

“yucheng” for good 

luck throughout the 

year and families 

enjoy their mother’s 

best versions of nian 

gao, a traditional 

rice cake (bottom). 

Don’t give a clock 

as a present, it’s 

akin to escorting 

someone to the 

grave! Gifts like green 

hats, handkerchiefs, 

umbrellas and 

scissors — even a 

pear fruit — are also a 

no-no. 

Don’t lend money or 

something of value; 

anyone who does 

gets stuck doing it 

all year. 


43


sesame seeds, and spice powder, to 

name a few. The main ingredient 

of wolf herring, the original fish 

of choice, gave way by popular 

demand to salmon and tuna. 

Celebrants toss the ingredients 

while chanting “lo hei” in 

Cantonese which means “scoop up” 

– hoping that their fortune too will 

be lifted up in the coming year. So the 

higher the toss, the better the luck. 

Enthusiastic 

well-wishers say 

“Gong Xi Fa Cai 

(Mandarin) and 

Gong Hey Fat 

Choy (Cantonese) 

to mean Happy 

New Year. Despite 

the difference in 

pronunciations, 

both are written 

with the same 

characters. 

Paper Prosperity Meets 

Digital Love 

We have seen how food takes 

centre stage in the Chinese New 

Year celebration. While joss paper 

(sheets of paper meant to represent 

material goods and burned in 

traditional ceremonies) might 

not be edible – it is one of the 

highlights of Chinese New Year. 

Paper money with more zeroes 

than some hyper-inflationary 

developing currencies are burnt 

as offerings to deceased ancestors 

and relatives, along with paper 

cars (with paper drivers) and paper 

mansions with Ionic columns. It is 

believed that the ancestors will be 

able to receive these gifts in their 

afterlife. As with food, different 

groups have different quirks. 

In Hokkien communities, who 

Chinese ancestry traces back to 

Fujian, joss papers are folded into 

the shape of pineapples. Pineapples 

in the Hokkien dialect is “ong lai,” 

which sounds like the auspicious 

phrase “arrival of prosperity.” 

But no Chinese New Year 

is complete without that most 

important paper – real money. 

At the heart of the food and 

hong bao bonanza is the family — 

an excuse for loved ones to gather 

and catch up. 

Bills are put into red envelopes 

and handed out mostly to children. 

Each group has its own approach to 

giving red envelopes. In Hong Kong 

culture, married couples give hong 

bao to younger relatives. Hokkiens 

take a more economic approach - 

only the youngest relatives receive 

ang pao. 

These practices though are far 

from being religiously followed. At 

the end of the day, customs give 

way to pragmatism and modern 

technology. This is most evident in 

how red envelopes are being sent 

via messaging apps. Last Chinese 

New Year’s Eve alone, WeChat, 

a popular messaging platform in 

China, recorded more than 1 billion 

hong bao transactions. 

Happy Gathering 

At the heart of the food and 

hong bao bonanza is the family. 

Chinese New Year is almost an 

excuse for loved ones to gather 

and catch up. The energy is what 

lends this special period its charm. 

Children return home to reconnect 

with parents, and grandparents 

meet their grandchildren after 

perhaps several months of 



าจด้วยเสียงประทัดหรือเสียงกลอง 

เร้าใจในขณะเชิดสิงโตที่ทำให้ 

ตรุษจีน เทศกาลเฉลิมฉลองปีใหม่ 

ของชาวจีนดูจะเป็นงานฉลองที่ครึกครื้น 

กว่าใครเพื่อน จนหลายคนอาจเข้าใจไปว่า 

ชาวจีนไม่ว่าชาติไหนๆ คงจะฉลองตรุษจีน 

เหมือนกันไปหมดทั่วโลก 

แต่แท้ที่จริงแล้วในความเหมือนนั้นมีความ 

ต่างแทรกอยู่เสมอ การเฉลิมฉลองเทศกาล 

ตรุษจีนในแต่ละท้องที่ มีสิ่งละอันพันละน้อย 

ที่แตกต่างกันไปตามพื้นเพ ความเชื่อและ 

เชื้อสาย จากรุ่นสู่รุ่นที่สืบทอดต่อเนื่องกัน 

มายาวนาน 

เริ่มจากขนมเข่งที่เป็นดังนางเอกของ 

เทศกาลตรุษจีน โดยปกติขนมเข่งถือเป็นหนึ่ง 

ในขนมมงคลที่ทุกคนไม่ควรพลาดในช่วง 

วันขึ้นปีใหม่ ด้วยคำว่าขนมเข่ง หรือ 

เหนียนเกา ในภาษาแมนดารินหมายถึง 

ความสมบูรณ์พูนสุขในชีวิตและความ 

ก้าวหน้าในหน้าที่การงาน หลายท้องที่อาจ 

ถือว่าขนมเข่งเป็นอาหารประเภทขนม 

แต่สำหรับทางตอนเหนือของประเทศจีนโดย 

เฉพาะที่เซี่ยงไฮ้แล้ว ขนมเข่งจะถูกจัดขึ้นโต๊ะ 

ร่วมกับอาหารจานหลักอื่นๆ โดยหั่นเป็นชิ้น 

บางๆ ก่อนจะนำไปชุบไข่ทอดน้ำมัน 

ขณะที่มาเลเซียและสิงคโปร์จะให้ความ 

สำคัญกับจานปลาหรืออาหารที่ทำจากปลา 

มากกว่า ไม่ว่าจะเป็นก๋วยเตี๋ยวลูกชิ้นปลา 

กระเพาะปลา หรือโจ๊กปลาก็ตาม แต่ที่นิยม 

มากที่สุดเห็นจะเป็น ปลาดิบ หรือ ยูเช็ง ที่ 

การออกเสียงในภาษาจีนพ้องกับคำที่มี 

ความหมายถึงความอุดมสมบูรณ์นั่นเอง 

หลังจากกราบไหว้เทพยดาฟ้าดินและงด 

รับประทานเนื้อในวันแรกของการฉลอง 

ปีใหม่ วันถัดมาจะมีการเผากระดาษเงิน 

กระดาษทองและสิ่งอำนวยความสะดวกอื่นๆ 

ที่ทำจากกระดาษถึงบรรพชนผู้ล่วงลับ 

แต่ตรุษจีนจะสมบูรณ์แบบไปไม่ได้ หากขาด 

เงินจริงๆ เข้ามาเกี่ยวข้อง แน่นอน ซองอั่งเปา 

สีแดงพร้อมเงินสดจะถูกแจกจ่ายให้แก่ลูก 

หลานญาติมิตรทุกคนอย่างพร้อมหน้า 

การฉลองที่กินเวลายาวนานร่วม 

สองสัปดาห์หรือ 15 วัน เต็มไปด้วยความสุข 

และการแบ่งปัน ตลอดจนถึงการพบปะ 

เยี่ยมเยือนในหมู่ญาติมิตรและบรรดา 

บุคคลที่นับถือ ก่อนจะปิดท้ายเทศกาลแห่ง 

ความสุขนี้ด้วยการแขวนโคมไฟประดับ 

ประดาทั่วไปอันเป็นเครื่องหมายของการ 

สิ้นสุดงานเลี้ยง เพื่อกลับเข้าสู่โลกของการ 

ทำงานอันเป็นวิถีชีวิตปกติอีกครั้งหนึ่ง 

The red colour 

of the envelope 

symbolises good luck 

and is supposed to 

ward off evil spirits. 

Red envelopes are 

usually given out 

by married couples 

to single people, 

regardless of age, 

or by older to 

younger ones. 

being apart. Activities such as 

dumpling making, buying flowers 

at markets and house cleaning 

bind family members together. 

The interactions extend beyond 

the living too as ancestors are 

remembered and honoured. 

Fifteen Days of Celebration 

Traditionally the entire Chinese 

New Year celebration lasts 15 days. 

During this period, relatives and 

friends will pay house visits and 

host lunches and dinners. The 

first day is reserved for the elders. 

Guests are welcomed with tea 

and sweet treats to sweeten the 

upcoming year, usually served 

on a round or octagonal tray, 

indicating togetherness. This 

tray is most commonly called the 

“tray of togetherness.” The first 

couple of days see lion dances 

and firecrackers. The fifth day 

is universally celebrated as the 

birthday of the God of Wealth, 

and the Lantern Festival wraps up 

Chinese New Year. Most people 

will be back to work on that day, 

as businesses open their doors. 

Cleaning and sweeping the floor are 

no longer forbidden activities and 

life is back to normal. 


Jay Soonthornsawad 

Pop Goes 

Photos: Ricky Zehavi 

Words: Nawa Acosta Wright 

the 

Other-wordly visual 

displays capture window 

shoppers’ imaginations come 

holiday time. 

Holiday 

Photo: Jesper Haynes 

Windows 

W 

hen night falls 

on New York City 

during the Christmas 

holidays, the retail 

wonderland of Fifth Avenue near 

Central Park twinkles brighter 

and the atmosphere sizzles 

with festiveness. It’s also the 

perfect backdrop when Bergdorf 

Goodman, the old world glamour 

department store, lifts its 

curtains to reveal magical retail 

windows. The wow factor shows 

attention-grabbing mannequins 

wearing extravagant fashions 

and retail merchandise playing a 

theatrical role in this visual feast. 

Fah Thai joined a long queue of people to 

gawk as a store window tourist recently and 

wondered who’s behind the magic. Enter 

Bangkok-born Jay Soonthornsawad, who was 

the perfect guide to the ‘show business’ of 

window displays. A visual display designer 

in New York, he works on visibly prominent 

projects like the iconic holiday windows of 

Bergdorf Goodman. 

Jay’s been a visual display designer for 

over 15 years, a technical sounding title yet 

his métier elevates store merchandise from 

a functional use to playing a more in depth 

role within the four glass walls of a store 

window. He explains the details that make 

these store windows so amazing when we meet 

on the LES, the lower east side of Manhattan, 

at a Thai restaurant. We had khan toke, the 

traditional northern Thailand meal on footed 

wood trays bearing roasted chilli dips and 

steamed vegetable crudite. 

Jay’s been involved with the Bergdorf 

Goodman store windows for over a decade 

to create works that define Christmas in 

New York. Every year, the fashion world’s 

biggest designers join in the festivities with 

Opposite page 

From a majestic 

eagle to the regal 

lion, the large scale 

display is made 

entirely of paper. 


49


extravagant Christmas window 

displays that the public wait as 

long as an hour to see. While 

New York stores do their holiday 

windows to win the attention 

of local and visiting customers, 

Bergdorf’s, as it’s fondly called 

by New Yorkers, dresses up their 

legendary windows with more 

opulence. 

Jay exudes a quiet and calm 

demeanour yet his work as a visual 

display designer presents explosive 

colours and detailed-filled scenes. 

One season featured a window 

named “The Crystal Ball,’ with a 

mannequin fortune teller, next to 

Swarovski crystal-studded objects. 

There’s “Teacher’s Pets,” from a 

past window done in a black and 

white colour scheme scattered 

with ‘pets’ like rabbits, a zebra, an 

ostrich, and other creatures made 

from organic materials while the 

mannequin dons a sequined dress 

by fashion brand Marchesa. 

Such spectacular displays are 

an annual treat for people familiar 

with the holiday windows. Jay 

is modest about sharing in the 

accolades that accompany window 

scenes that are never subdued, but 

also can be sublime. 

The projects with Bergdorf 

had themes like “Inspired”. Each 

window featured “The Arts” 

Right 

One must peruse 

at a leisurely pace all 

the details featured 

in each fairy tale 

window. 

in its category of Literature, 

Photography, Music, Theatre, Film, 

Sculpture and the “Literature” 

window had a collection of famous 

writers’ needlepoint portraits 

in different shades of red. The 

“Theatre” window showcased a 

mannequin wearing a beaded gold 

gown on a backdrop of colourful 

neon lights designed to resemble 

the theatre district of Broadway’s 

billboard lights. Any window 

onlooker simply stops and stares 

at the wondrous sight. 

“We’re not selling a product, 

but a store’s image,” Jay explains, 

of Bergdorf’s visual feats. A person 

walking from a distance or sitting in 

a taxi can take a look out from their 

window to our window and see the 

products and know what the store is 

about, he says. 

Jay also points out that it’s 

David Hoey, Bergdorf’s resident 

‘window dresser,’ who leads 

Bergdorf’s, 

as it’s fondly called 

by New Yorkers, 

dresses up their 

legendary 

windows with more 

opulence than the 

nearby stores. 



Above 

“Season’s 

Greetings,” 

had an alternative 

take on 

communications 

while “Sleepwalking” 

was 

elaborate in its 

dream-like state. 

the team and brings the holiday 

spectacle to life and makes 

the ultra-chic store a prime 

destination for their Christmas 

window displays. Window dressing 

normally is defined as the 

decoration of a store window and 

a profession that’s been around 

since the early 20th century. 

And Bergdorf redefined it with 

an enthusiasm for resplendent 

displays. Every year is obviously 

a different theme — imagine a 

window called Compendium of 

Curiosities that’s inspired by Alice 

in Wonderland with characters and 

props made entirely of paper. 

Jay confirms that these 

creations are done by real artists 

skilled in their craft, like sculptors 

who do pieces for that year’s 

theme. The concepts are done 

in house and features the store 

merchandise and even one-of-akind 

outfits especially created for 

the window display. 

In 2015, the store collaborated 

with Swarovski — known to most 

of us for their crystal jewellery 

— to celebrate the season and the 

company’s 120th anniversary. 

This resulted in dazzling store 

windows with crystal-encrusted 

suits of armour, a cave dotted 

with amethyst crystals, a giant 

pearl-encrusted sculpture of god 

of the underwater world Neptune 

himself and more. That should 

indicated just how large the store 

windows are. 

Attention is also drawn at a 

practical level to the store since 

the short holiday means a need 

for increased retail sales. So every 

year for about six weeks, from 

mid-November until early January, 

the Christmas windows of New 

York’s most famous stores attract 

millions of visitors. Jay says that 

the team starts thinking about it 

at the beginning of the year with 

other departments from Bergdorf. 

“Around Christmas, we feed off 

the atmosphere of the season and 

it helps with the inspiration and it 

builds momentum for the rest of 

the year.” 

Jay admits to being a 

perfectionist, a trait not well-suited 

to a Buddhist, he points out with 

quiet humour, because it brings 

on dissatisfaction. No matter his 

feelings, such admirable work as a 

visual display designer brings joy to 

onlookers every year. 

This is the same store featured 

in the documentary “Scatter My 

Ashes at Bergdorf,” a store so 

luxurious and glamorous that one 

could happily spend eternity there. 

Jay tried to scurry away from the 

camera. “I didn’t want to be filmed, 

so I tried to duck away from the 

cameras.” A little unsuccessfully, 

he says with a rueful smile since he 

can be seen in some scenes. 



So does it take a craziness to 

produce something beyond the 

ordinary? He corrects it to say 

there’s got to be a quirky-ness. 

“So I guess I may have a bit of 

that,” he says contemplatively. 

To do something ordinary can 

easily be overlooked, it can be 

taken for granted, he points 

out. Jay also possesses a striking 

sartorial style which is testament 

to the creative spirit in his work. 

As for inspiration for such big 

ideas? “I don’t seek it — it comes. 

I don’t go for walks through city 

streets looking for something that 

would strike me as inspiring. Instead 

it comes in moments when my mind 

is clear. And that is usually before 

I go to sleep. The ideas just keep 

coming,” he says with a laugh. 

Although there are some places 

that Jay enjoys spending time 

in. One is the Parisian-style café 

Buvette in the neighbourhood 

of the West Village, a short walk 

from his home in the East Village. 

Buvette’s atmosphere is of vintage 

France, with a small plates menu 

of classic French specialties of 

open-faced tartines with pates and 

terrines. 

How else does he express his 

creative spirit and what of the 

future? “I like gardening. It’s what 

I do when I go to Bangkok. I enjoy 

going to Chatuchak (Bangkok’s 

weekend market) and picking out 

plants,” he smiles. 

It’s a quiet enjoyment before he 

goes back to the vibrancy of luxury 

store windows. He confirms that 

every year, ‘it’s exciting.’ 

าไทย พาคุณมารู้จัก เจย์ นพณัฐ 

สุนทรสวัสดิ์ วิชวลดีไซเนอร์หนุ่ม 

ไทยเพียงหนึ่งเดียวในทีมนัก 

ออกแบบของห้าง Bergdorf Goodman ที่ 

ระดมความคิดสร้างสรรค์ตกแต่งดิสเพลย์ 

ให้กับช่องกระจกโชว์ของห้าง จนเป็นที่ 

เลื่องลือมากว่า 15 ปี 

งานวินโดว์ดิสเพลย์ของห้าง Bergdorf 

Goodman ซึ่งตั้งอยู่บนถนนสาย 

ประวัติศาสตร์ฟิฟท์เอฟเวนิวในละแวก 

เซ็นทรัลปาร์คแห่งนี้ปลุกชีวิตชีวาและสร้าง 

บรรยากาศเฉลิมฉลองให้กับมหานคร 

นิวยอร์กมานับครั้งไม่ถ้วน ทั้งยังได้ชื่อว่า 

เป็นดิสเพลย์ที่สวยงามและโด่งดังที่สุดใน 

โลก ดึงดูดสายตาผู้ชมนับล้านจากทุกแห่ง 

หนให้แวะเวียนกันมาเยี่ยมชมเสมอ 

โดยเฉพาะในช่วงคริสมาสต์ของแต่ละปี และ 

เจย์คือผู้อยู่เบื้องหลังความสำเร็จนั้น 

เจย์เล่าให้ฟ้าไทยฟังว่า “เราไม่ได้จัด 

ดิสเพลย์เพื่อโชว์สินค้าหรือขายของ แต่ 

เป็นนำเสนอภาพลักษณ์ของห้างมากกว่า” 

เมื่อถามถึงแรงบันดาลใจในการสร้างสรรค์ 

ผลงาน เจย์ตอบว่าเขาโชคดีมากที่ไม่ต้อง 

ออกไปค้นหาจากภายนอก เพราะส่วน 

ใหญ่ความคิดดีๆ จะแวบเข้ามาในหัวเวลา 

ที่เขารู้สึกสงบนิ่ง สบายใจ ซึ่งมักเกิดขึ้นใน 

เวลาได้ทำกิจกรรมโปรด ซึ่งนอกจากการ 

ไปเดินเลือกต้นไม้ที่สวนจตุจักรเวลากลับ 

เมืองไทยแล้ว แรงบันดาลใจของเจย์จะพรั่ง 

พรูท่วมท้นเมื่อได้ปล่อยอารมณ์สบายๆ ที่ 

Buvette คาเฟ่สไตล์ปารีเซียงใกล้ที่พักใน 

ย่านเวสต์วิลเลจที่เขาคุ้นเคย 

Above 

Teacher’s Pets 

showcases 

a black and 

white extravaganza 

of animals 

that redefine the 

word ‘pets.’ 


mandalay 

Screening 

Words & Photos: Chalotorn Payomyol 

Nostalgia 

and Nature 

A film on Mandalay and its 

less visited sights beckons all 

to picturesque surroundings. 


MANDALAY 

Aletter never 

serves its purpose 

unless it is read 

and to hold on to 

them for 50 years without 

being opened? This is the 

mystery that inspires Pin, 

the female lead of the 

movie “From Bangkok 

to Mandalay” to go on 

a journey to Myanmar, 

clutching ten unopened 

envelopes to unravel her 

grandmother’s love story. 

The road trip movie was 

shot in many stunning 

and unseen places around 

Mandalay and nearby towns 

and after watching it, you 

might want to grab your 

backpack and set off on a 

similar path to such beauty, 

just like Fah Thai did. 

Part of my journey follows a 

grandmother’s last wish in the movie 

that they get read in the order in the 

place they were written and posted. 

The trip begins in Mandalay, the 

last royal capital before it was 

annexed by the British Empire. 

Answers to the letters are gradually 

uncovered in this well received 

movie, and marks a first time 

collaboration between Thailand and 

Myanmar under the direction of 

Thai director Chartchai Ketnust. 

Top right Buddhists in Myanmar press gold 

leaves on the Mahamuni Buddha image. 

It just hit the screens in Thailand 

and Myanmar around the end of 

last year. 

The movie inspired further 

spiritual awakening in me, 

although it began with a rude 

one when I found myself on the 

back of motorcycle taxi that came 

earlier than the appointed time. 

Making our way through the 

darkness and empty streets – it 

took only 5 minutes to reach the 

destination. My watch showed 

that it was 3:50 am and while I was 

wondering maybe it was too early 

— surprisingly, a crowd of Buddhist 

devotees were already gathered at 

the Mahamuni Buddha temple. 

The daily face washing ritual 

of the Mahamuni Buddha image, 

a much revered figure, holds great 

significance for the people of 

Mandalay. 

At around 4:30 am, a senior 

monk started the ablution. People 

began praying and offering food 

and flowers to pay respect while 

monks and male devotees 

performed the sacred ritual. 

Be it my faith or curiosity, it was a 

true blessing to be a part of this 

sacred ceremony and to witness 

the local people’s strong faith 

in Buddhism. 

I moved on to a place that 

survived World War II, to 

Shwenandaw monastery whose 

structure is made from teak wood. 

Also known as the Golden Palace 

Monastery, it is famed for its 

beautiful wood carvings too. The 

building is deteriorating but retains 

its exquisiteness. Though it is not 

as grand as the Mandalay palace, its 

teak wood simplicity gave a sense 

of calm and detached me from the 

noise of tourist groups. 

The monastery’s distinctive 

architecture and artistic wood 

carvings are truly amazing. It 

was also impressive to see local 

people praying and meditating in 

the monastery, making this place 

even more sacred. I just couldn’t 

help reminisce about those days 

when King Mindon spent his last 

days here. 

From the tranquility of 

Shwenandaw, I went to where it was 

quite hectic at the Mayan Gyan jetty 

on the bank of Ayeyarwady river. 

In the morning local people start 

their day as usual, while travellers 

prepare to board boats to Mingun, 

a town in the Sagaing region about 

11 km upriver from Mandalay. 

This town was my next stop 

because Mingun had such appeal in 

the movie and I couldn’t miss it. 

I decided not travel by road 

like in the movie but opted for a boat 

ride along the Ayeyarwady river 

instead. As the boat approached 

the river bank, the town of Mingun 

gradually revealed itself, looking 

small and modest in size, but there 

was actually more to it than meets 

the eye. Once you’re off the boat, 

unique and eco-friendly bullock 

cart taxis await passengers. Despite 

the heat, going on foot down the 

road seemed best as all attractions 

are within walking distance. 

“This is the unfinished pagoda, 

never finished,” says a young boy 

who kept following me from the 

Top Mingun Pahtodawgyi remains unfinished 

up to this day, owing to the belief that its 

completion would bring death to the king. 

riverbank. His hand sweeps in 

motion towards the huge pagoda of 

Mingun Pahtodawgyi, as though he 

were a guide and I had to politely 

refuse since the structure required 

no explanation. Its remarkably 

massive size makes the pagoda 

immediately recognisable despite 

its quick appearance in the movie. 

Legend has it that the completion 

of the pagoda would cause death to 

the King and collapse the kingdom. 


MANDALAY 

Stunning white pagoda of 

Hsinbyume was built in 1816 by 

Prince Bagyidaw in memory of 

his beloved wife Hsinbyume and 

was nicknamed the “Taj Mahal 

of Myanmar” since. 

Top A half hour drive 

from Pyin Oo Lwin 

leaves you at the huge 

Dat Taw Gyaint or 

Anisakan waterfall, 

best seen from the 

View Resort. 

Thus the pagoda is left forever 

unfinished at 50 metres high. It 

is probably its incompleteness 

that makes this place unique and 

attracts many visitors these days. 

I walked further from Mingun 

Pahtodawgyi and through its village 

to where the beautiful white pagoda 

of Hsinbyume or Myatheindan 

pagoda stands gracefully. It is 

uniquely stunning in its shape and 

its white simplicity like no other 

pagodas in Myanmar with a design 

that is based on the mythical 

Sulamani pagoda on Mount Meru. 

The pagoda was built in 1816 by 

Prince Bagyidaw in memory of his 

wife Hsinbyume, who died during 

childbirth. People have nicknamed 

it the “Taj Mahal of Myanmar” as 

another monument to love. 

So I climbed up to the top of 

the terraces to where the two main 

characters in the movie walked. 

Feeling the wind against my face, 

somehow the story behind the 

pagoda and the movie takes less 

relevance because this place is just as 

romantic! No wonder it was included 

as one of the film locations. 

Next is Pyin Oo Lwin, a town 

surprising in a way that changed 

my perception about Myanmar. 

Unlike the country’s other cities, 

the area is famous for its nature, 

rather than temples or pagodas. 

The weather is pleasant year round 

and a perfect place to calm the 

mind. Pyin Oo Lwin is also known 

as Maymyo and formerly a British 

hill station. Many travellers usually 

take a train to Hsipaw at Pyin Oo 

Lwin train station. I hopped on the 

train, following the movie trail to 

the Gokteik viaduct, the highest 

bridge in Myanmar. Luckily, a 

kind ticket officer recommended 

reserving in advance a seat on the 

left side of the train to get a better 

view of the viaduct bridge. 

Excitement built up as the train 

slowly approached the bridge. 

In the movie, this is where one of 

the letters is read. Even without 

a ‘letter,’ one can still indulge 

in the spectacular view of green 

mountains below the viaduct and 

capture the moment. As a train 

enthusiast, it was a most exciting 

ride for me. It was a refreshing 

experience because such an epic 

journey can be found nowhere else 

but here. 

One highlight destination 

captured in the movie is Dat Taw 

Gyaint or Anisakan waterfall. 

This location is quite a significant 

scene in the movie but I can’t 

spoil the story! The best point 

for a panoramic view of this huge 

waterfall is at the View Resort, 

just about a 30 minute drive from 

Pyin Oo Lwin. 

It took the motorcycle taxi 

driver a little while to find this 


MANDALAY 

Top and bottom 

All Saints’ Church 

with the red brick 

exterior stunningly 

brought us back into 

colonial times. 

exact location and we were struck 

by heavy rain for almost 30 minutes. 

That was not my lucky day but 

once we reached the resort, the sky 

cleared and the fresh air after the 

rainfall lingered. The viewpoint is 

just stunning with a good spot to 

sit, relax and enjoy. 

Afterwards my adventurous 

spirit called for a hike to the bottom 

of the waterfall for a closer view. 

On the way down, I met a local guy 

and while we couldn’t speak the 

same language, it seemed he said 

something about a shortcut to the 

waterfall. Not wanting to go alone, I 

asked him to go down too. The trail 

was a total mess with slippery mud 

and it was so steep that one could 

fall off the path easily. Without 

the help of this stranger, I wouldn’t 

have made it to the bottom of the 

waterfall. 

And the waterfall is impressive 

as expected. Yet it is also the 

kindness of a stranger that is 

a beauty in itself. I began to 

understand how the director fell in 

love with Myanmar and its people 

and his decision to make this movie 

to bring two countries closer. 

Back to Pyin Oo Lwin, the 

former British hill station whose 

colonial building can be seen across 

town. Exploring with a bicycle and 

map included a visit to All Saints’ 

Church. It was an Anglican church 

in colonial times and took awhile to 

find. A few people were asked for 

directions but they didn’t know this 

place. No one else was there when 

I arrived. 

The church looks mystically 

beautiful with its red brick 

exterior and colonial architecture 

set amidst the trees. It was like 

travelling back in time and to the 

scene in the movie with its vintage 

vibe. A hidden gem indeed and a 

perfect place to end this movie 

location trip. 

There are more places featured 

and explored in the movie, like 

Yangon, Bagan and Hsipaw. 

Myanmar has its own charm and 

character and is surprisingly 

impressive. And to the director who 

said, “From Bangkok to Mandalay” 

is the movie that brings the people 

of two countries closer, I couldn’t 

agree more. No letters needed. 

องไปในมัณฑะเลย์ตามปกติธรรมดาว่า 

เพลิดเพลินแล้ว การได้ซอกแซกแกะรอย 

ไปตามเส้นทางและสถานที่ที่ปรากฏใน 

ภาพยนตร์เรื่อง From Bangkok to Mandalay 

กลับเป็นเรื่องสนุกสนานท้าทายยิ่งกว่า 

From Bangkok to Mandalay หรือ 

“ถึงคน...ไม่คิดถึง” ในชื่อภาษาไทย เป็น 

ภาพยนตร์ไทยเรื่องแรกและเรื่องเดียวที่ได้รับ 

อนุญาตให้เข้าไปถ่ายทาตามสถานที่ท่องเที่ยว 

สาคัญต่างๆ ในเมืองหลวงเก่าแก่ของพม่าใน 

อดีตก่อนถูกยึดครองโดยอังกฤษ มัณฑะเลย์ 

เป็นเมืองใหญ่ลาดับที่สองรองจากย่างกุ้ง 

ที่เต็มไปด้วยเรื่องราวของกาลเวลาและสถานที่ 

สาคัญทางประวัติศาสตร์มากมายที่รอดพ้น 

จากยามศึกสงคราม อีกทั้งยังคงดูขรึมขลังใน 

ความรู้สึก ยิ่งเมื่อปรากฏอยู่ในหลายซีนของ 

ภาพยนตร์รักโรแมนติกเรื่องนี้ 

นอกจากเจดีย์และวัดสาคัญอีกมากหลาย 

อาทิเช่น วัดมหามัยมุนี วัดโกสุดอว์ ฯลฯ ที่ 

ชาวพุทธในพม่ายังคงแสดงให้เห็นถึงศรัทธา 

อันเหนียวแน่น พระราชวังมัณฑะเลย์ที่เคยได้ 

ชื่อว่าเป็นพระราชวังไม้สักที่งดงามที่สุดใน 

เอเชียและพระตาหนักไม้สักชเวนันดอร์ที่สลัก 

เสลางดงามก็เป็นสถานที่ประกาศความงาม 

ของศิลปะพม่าดั้งเดิมได้ชัดเจนที่สุด รวมไปถึง 

สะพานไม้สักอูเบ็งอันเป็นสะพานไม้ที่ยาวที่สุด 

ในโลก หนึ่งในสถานที่เฝ้ารอชมพระอาทิตย์ 

ตกดินที่โรแมนติกที่สุดด้วยเช่นกัน 

ความงดงามตามธรรมชาติของมัณฑะเลย์ 

ยังคงมีให้ผู้มาเยือนได้ตักตวงความสุข 

ไม่เฉพาะที่มัณฑะเลย์เพียงแห่งเดียว ยังมีสถาน 

ที่ท่องเที่ยวสวยงามให้แกะรอยตามฉากเด็ด 

ในภาพยนตร์อีกมากมาย จึงไม่น่าแปลกใจต่อ 

เสียงสะท้อนความรู้สึกว่าแผ่นดินทั้งสองประเทศ 

ถูกเชื่อมเข้าไว้ด้วยกันจากเรื่องราวของ 

จดหมายรักใน “ถึงคน...ไม่คิดถึง” โดยแท้ 

From Bangkok to Mandalay 

ถึงคน...ไม่คิดถึง 

Ten letters are sent from a man in 

Myanmar to a woman in Thailand 

who he loves and misses so much. 

But the letters are left unopened for 

50 years. Until one day, the woman’s 

granddaughter is given those letters 

and asked to go and read every letter 

only from where they were written. 

This is how the impressive love 

story begins. 

Starring: Thai actress Pilaiporn 

Supinchompoo and Myanmar superstars; 

Sai Sai Kham Leng, Nay Toe and Wut 

Hmon Shwe Yi 

Director: Chartchai Ketnust 


SAMUI 

FIND 

YOUR 

Photos: Dolnapa Ram-Indra / 

Thitiphan Kantawilaskul 

Words: Tanistha Dansilp 

MISSING 

PEACE 

You get the sea, sand and sun on the beautiful island 

of Koh Samui, but in addition to that, how about 

some happiness and inner peace? On a hilltop is the 

Dipabhāvan Meditation Centre, a place that offers your 

mind and spirit a chance to get renewed through the 

process of mindfulness. 

I 

recently visited the Dipabhavan 

Meditation Centre, also referred 

to as the Development of Light 

Hermitage in Koh Samui in the 

province of Surat Thani in Thailand. 

The retreat overlooks the beauty of 

Lamai beach and since its inception 

in the year 2005, more than 30,000 

foreign visitors from all over the 

world have come to this place to 

find fulfillment through dhamma 

practice. To make it to Dipabhavan, 

a red minibus takes me up the hill. 

From here on, I leave the real world 

behind — the busy streets, the 

beautiful beaches, the drinking and 

dancing and loudness of Chaweng or 

Lamai beaches. 

The plan is that in seven days, 

there will be only you with a mind 

cleared of worries and a feeling of 

calmness. People come to the Centre 

to spend time with nature, listen to 

the sound of their heartbeat, feel the 

wind and hear the birds, and slowly 

isolate from the outside world. At 

the retreat, you get to go deep inside 

yourself — to observe, be conscious 

of your thoughts and be honest with 

yourself. The teachings are based on 

Ajarn (Thai for teacher) Buddhadasa, 

a revered monk who taught the 

principles of Buddha-Dhamma. 

The day begins at 4:00 am 

and spreads out with meditation 

and basic activities that ends with 

bedtime at 9:00 pm. This comes to 

17 hours a day and 119 hours a week! 

Not much strenuous activity goes on 

except for the simple task of sitting, 

sleeping, walking and eating. Yoga, 

a walking meditation and dhamma 

completes the day. A climb of some 

200 steps takes place five times daily 

as part of the mindfulness practice. 

The monastery bell becomes the 

official timekeeper and helps you 

with the counting of walking steps. 

Serenity takes over 

when one practises 

mindfulness. 


SAMUI 

OPEN TO A NEW EXPERIENCE 

“Our mind is like a monkey, and not 

a simple monkey but a drunken one! 

Watch your mind and your thoughts 

because it will become your action! 

– Buddha teaching 

On the last morning of the English 

course at the Centre, people can finally 

talk and share their experiences, 

complete with big smiles on their 

faces. After all, it is seven days of 

being silent – no use of social media, 

no mobile phone, no television, no 

book to read and only two vegetarian 

meals are taken in a day. 

And I wondered what had 

happened in the last six days to our 

minds. I wanted to know whether 

something really did happen and 

where it took us. It’s an interesting 

question that I asked participants. 

Wadey, an Australian biologist 

who lives in Malaysia felt much 

more aware of things after six 

days and says, “I decided to come 

for meditation without knowing 

anything about Buddhism or 

meditation. I only know it is a good 

opportunity. I loved the chance to 

calm my mind.” Another enlightened 

person who also spent a week at 

the retreat tells me, “My mind feels 

energetic and works very fast and 

adds with conviction that meditation 

is a good way to observe our minds. 

Victoria Semenova, who lives 

in Israel says, “I feel completely 

happy. I don’t know why I can’t 

stop smiling.” She heard about the 

meditation retreat some four, five 

years ago from friends and finally 

did the course. “Definitely I will 

come to Thailand again, just for 

meditation,” she says. 

ANOTHER STEP IN LIFE 

‘Nothing lasts forever,’ even things 

that you like or didn’t like. Treat them 

with the same sense of lightness and 

awareness of impermanence. 

– Buddha teaching 

Linus Khan says he came to 

Dipabhavan to seek ‘spiritual 

enlightenment, spiritual 

inspiration’. “Basically this is a 

learning trip for me,” says Khan, 

a thirty year old participant from 

Pakistan who chose the meditation 

retreat in Thailand as a first step 

of his spiritual journey in Asia. He 

had planned the year ahead to work 

on his mind, body and spirit and 

as part of the process, and plans to 

go to China to study kung fu and to 

Peru for knowledge on shamanism. 

All this follows after he finished the 

meditation class at Dipabhavan. 

“I would like to work on my mind, 

because it will take care of your 

whole life.” 

“Meditation is never easy for newcomers — there are beautiful results yet with difficult 

adjustments,” says one participant. 

WHAT DO 

WE LEARN? 

Every teaching 

and practice at the 

centre is within 

the framework of 

Ajarn Buddhadasa’s 

teachings. As one of 

the most influential 

Buddhist teachers, 

he gets to the 

heart of Buddha’s 

teachings in a 

simple, direct and 

powerful metaphor. 

Dhamma talk such 

as ‘atta’ (self, soul 

or ego), ‘dukkha’ 

(dissatisfaction, 

distress, suffering) 

and ‘upadana’ 

(clinging, attachment) 

are explained by 

Ajarn Buddhadasa 

and all the dhamma 

principles can be 

summarised thus: 

upadana is the 

cause of dukkha, 

dukkha is born out 

of upadana. So it is 

best if we profoundly 

understand this 

matter of upadana. 

MEDITATION 

The meditation 

technique taught 

here at Dipabhāvan 

is ‘Mindfulness’ 

with Breathing’ 

(Anapanasati in the 

Pali language). 

Participants 

will learn: 

• how to practise 

mindfulness 

through breathing 

• how to develop 

concentration to 

produce tranquility 

of mind 

• mind purification 

to see the supreme 

wisdom of 

understanding 

things as they are 

• insight 

development 

to free our minds 

from attachment 

and suffering, i.e. 

‘Insight orVipassana- 

Meditation’ 

Apart from the 

‘Mindfulness through 

Breathing’ practice, 

the daily programme 

at the hermitage 

will include yoga, 

Buddhist chants and 

the practice of ‘Loving 

Kindness Meditation’. 

Khan also wanted to handle 

situations like anger, anxiety, 

worry and the list goes on. He 

actually wanted to reach his true 

potential and meditation seems 

to help him fine-tune emotions. 

For him, only one hour of 

meditation a day can empower 

him to handle the rest of the day. 

The youngest practitioner 

was eighteen year old Ishaa 

Adrian from Malaysia. He 

chose meditation as a defining 

moment and the next step in life 

before attending university in 

Australia. He booked the ticket to 

specifically come for the retreat 

and learn how to treat life’s 

discomforts by replacing it with 

feelings of gratitude, optimism 

and overall lightness of being. 

But meditation for 

newcomers is never easy. There 

will be beautiful results yet with 

difficult adjustments. Ishaa 

had every strong intention to 

join the retreat, yet he found 

moments when he really wanted 

to quit. It was trying, despite 

the knowledge that learning 

the principles of patience and 

kindness will bring him great joy 

and big rewards. 


samui 

DAILY SCHEDULE: 

04:30 Wake up 

05:00 Morning 

Reading 

05:15 Sitting 

Meditation 

05:45 Yoga/Exercise 

07:00 Sitting 

Meditation 

07:30 Breakfast 

and Chores 

09:30 Dhamma Talk 

10:30 Walking or 

Standing 

Meditation 

“Loving kindness or ‘metta’ 

required more than sitting 

on a cushion and wishing 

others well…” 

“I was thinking of leaving once 

or twice, but now, I’m feeling so 

relaxed. I also like the concept of 

silence. It is a bit difficult at first 

as I am not used to keeping quiet,” 

said Ishaa. “This is a good place 

for a good experience and I really 

enjoyed the food!” said Ishaa. 

11:00 Sitting 

Meditation 

11:30 Lunch 

and Chores 

14:00 Meditation 

Instruction 

and Sitting 

Meditation 

Below 

Group activities 

can be basic 

housekeeping 

done in meditative 

silence, to sharing 

knowledge of 

learned teachings. 

SHARING IS ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL 

Most foreign practitioners said they 

were very impressed with food that 

was well-prepared and made with 

love by nuns and volunteers during 

breakfast and lunch. The menus 

offer brown rice, a vegetarian 

curry, various vegetable gravies or 

different kinds of salad decorated 

with edible flowers. It not only 

fulfilled the participants’ stomachs 

but also their eyes and minds too. 

At the retreat, both men and 

women chose a daily chore. I 

would never forget the scene when 

everyone did some kind of work 

after breakfast for about 20 minutes 

every day. Some chose to clear up 

dining tables, sweep the floors, and 

others even willingly cleaned toilets 

– all in a happy manner. 

Ajarn Buddhadasa’s teachings 

had said that the practice of loving 

kindness or ‘Metta’ in Pali, required 

more than just sitting on a cushion 


Standing 

Meditation 

15:30 Sitting 

Meditation 


Standing 

Meditation 

16:30 Chanting 

and Loving 

Kindness 

Meditation 

17:30 Tea 

19:30 Sitting 

Meditation 

20:00 Group 

Walking 

Meditation 

20:30 Sitting 

Meditation 

21:00 Bedtime 

21:30 Lights Out 

PREPARE YOUR 

BODY AND MIND: 

Doing a seven-day 

retreat for a beginner is 

not easy, so preparing 

your body and mind is 

highly recommended. 

Remember you have to: 

• have commitment, 

determination and 

discipline 

• practise getting 

up early 

• adjust with the 

schedule which 

everybody must 

follow 

• live on two 

vegetarian meals 

a day 

• deal with physical 

discomfort 

• experience a lot o 

your own emotional 

ups and down 

during the retreat 

and wishing others well. The revered monk reminds 

us that we should also practise and put it into action. 

You could prepare food or do good things to others, 

show your friendliness, goodwill, benevolence, 

fellowship, peaceful friendship, inoffensiveness and 

non-violent acts, all of which is a way to practise 

loving kindness. 

Garlar Below, a twenty four year old German 

visitor, shared the principles he learned when he 

invited people to join activities at the retreat centre 

and similar interests put them on the same path after 

the course finished. He’s joined with others to ride 

their motorcycles from Phuket to Koh Samui for a 

“peace of mind” journey. 

“Nothing makes me happier than sharing and 

doing something together. It is not only meditation, 

but also something else that I can {do to} support 

others. I understand that I can change no one but 

myself. For that reason, I can help them to change 

themselves by opening doors for them.” 

FIND YOUR MISSING PIECES/PEACE 

Below sees a connection between past knowledge 

and a new sense of understanding when one is 

enlightened. He senses the power of seeing things in 

a new way and he describes it as a big awakening of 

his former self. 

Hansar Moment of Happiness 

Samui, Bangkok, Pranburi, Khao Yai, Cha Am 

www.hansarhotels.com 


samui 

By the end of the 

retreat, people 

experience a 

lightness of being, 

that is part of a selfawakening. 

“It’s really hard to explain. 

Just come here and experience 

it by yourself. It does not matter 

what I say, but how you perceive it 

and that’s what we’ve learnt,” he 

describes of his awakening. 

Simon Kok, a half Swedish, half 

Vietnamese teacher from Sweden 

explained his awakening after he 

finished the retreat. He believed 

that Buddhism and the dhamma 

teachings of Ajarn Buddhadasa 

connected him more with his roots, 

and especially to his Vietnamese 

mother. 

“When I was young, I didn’t 

understand my mother at all. It’s 

hard for a teenager to understand 

Buddhism because it’s not about 

output, but the input,” Kok 

explained. “Every time I encounter 

a new experience or situation, I 

always pictured my mum in my 

head. I travelled back in time into 

YOUR ADVISORS: 

Each day there will be a session on the theory and practice 

of mindfulness through breathing. A variety of tips 

and ways of dealing with problems or obstacles will be 

discussed. Ajarn Pho and Dhammavidu Bhikkhu (an English 

monk) will address the group regularly, talking about 

meditation and the dharma. 

AJARN POH 

Ajarn Pho is the former 

abbot of Suan Mokkh, 

also called the Garden 

of Liberation in Surat 

Thani province. It was 

founded in 1932 by 

Ajarn Buddhadasa with 

the goal of teaching the 

true heart of Buddhism. 

For almost a century, it 

has served and become 

one of the most revered 

Theravada Buddhist 

temple in Thailand, 

and the founder of 

Dipabhāvan. During 

the retreat, participants 

are welcomed to ask all 

questions, talk and seek 

advice from Ajarn Pho in 

English. 

Find more of Ajarn 

Buddhadasa’s teachings at: 

http://dhammavidu.com/DV/ 

Translations.html 

http://www.suanmokkh.org/ 

books/ 

my memory bank and I could pick 

a good part of hearing my mum’s 

voice echoing in my mind. That’s 

my insight. How I start to feel my 

mum even when she’s not around 

me. It was very beautiful,” he says. 

Kok said this wouldn’t be 

his first and last time here at 

Dhammavidu Bhikkhu 

It’s always great to 

have a monk who has a 

Western background and 

understanding in order to 

explain and share dharma 

principles to foreigners. 

Dhammavidu Bhikkhu is 

originally from England and 

lives at Suan Mokkh temple 

in Southern Thailand. He 

helped teach meditation 

to foreigners at the Suan 

Mokkh International Dhamma 

Hermitage and the 

Dipabhāvan Meditation 

Centre at Samui Island since 

the last decade. 

Dhammavidu Bhikkhu has 

been rendering the works of 

Ajarn Buddhadasa into English 

since 2010. As his study of 

Ajarn Buddhadasa’s teaching 

deepens, he is beginning to 

translate from ‘The Dhamma 

Proclamation Series,’ a 

multi-volume collection of 

Ajarn Buddhadasa’s major 

teachings. 

CLASSES 

AVAILABLE: 

English-language 

Retreat 

Opens twice 

a month: 

• 1 week retreat 

starts from the 

20-27th of every 

month 

• 3-day retreat 

starts from the 

7-10th 

Russian-language 

Retreat 

• from 1st-7th of 

every month 

Retreat Booking: 

Dipabhāvan.org 

COURSE FEES: 

This programme is 

free of charge, but 

you can donate what 

you want when the 

retreat is finished. 

This will help to 

maintain and run this 

hermitage for others 

who can travel to 

have the Centre’s 

great experience. 

HOW TO 

GET THERE: 

Since the meditation 

centre is located on 

the hill and difficult 

to reach, everyone 

goes to a meeting 

point. It’s either at 

the Dipabhāvan 

Foundation office 

located at ‘The Icon’ 

in the small village 

of Hua Thanon or 

go to ‘Utopia Resort’ 

on Lamai Beach. 

From there, the 

red minibus will be 

available and free of 

charge to take you to 

the centre, located 

around 13 

kilometres away. 

Dipabhavan, since he thought it 

was nice to surround himself with 

good people. “But in the beginning 

you need good guidance more or 

less, and then it become less and 

less. That is the main purpose.” 

าหรับนักเดินทางที่มุ่งแสวงหาความ 

สงบแห่งชีวิตด้านในแล้ว ต่างรู้ดีว่า 

จุดหมายปลายทางยังเกาะสมุย 

แห่งนี้ มิได้มีเพียงฟ้าใสกับหาดทรายขาว 

ทอดยาวเคียงคู่ไปกับทะเลสีครามสะอาดตา 

คอยท่าผู้มาเยือนเท่านั้น 

หากบนยอดเขาชะอุ่มเขียวที่เรียงราย 

ลดหลั่นกันไปทั่วเกาะแห่งนี้ ยังมีอีกหนึ่ง 

ความพิเศษของเมืองสมุยซ่อนอยู่อย่าง 

สงบงามท่ามกลางธรรมชาติรายล้อม 

อันได้แก่ อาศรมปฏิบัติธรรมนามว่า 

“ทีปภาวันธรรมสถาน” 

ทีปภาวันธรรมสถาน เป็นที่รู้จักกันดี 

ในหมู่นักเดินทางทางจิตวิญาณทั้งชาวไทย 

และต่างประเทศมาระยะหนึ่งแล้ว ซึ่งหาก 

นับเนื่องจากปี พ.ศ. 2548 ที่ทีปวันธรรม 

สถานเริ่มเปิดดาเนินการฝึกอบรมปฏิบัติ 

ธรรมมาจนถึงทุกวันนี้ พบว่า นอกจาก 

ชาวไทยแล้ว ยังมีชาวต่างชาติถึงกว่าสาม 

หมื่นคนที่ได้มาเข้าร่วมปฏิบัติธรรมฝึก 

สมาธิหรือรับการอบรมอานาปานสติ 

ตามแนวทางของท่านอาจารย์พุทธทาส 

ผู้ยึดหลักคาสอนขององค์พระสัมมา- 

สัมพุทธเจ้าอย่างเคร่งครัด 

อันที่จริงแล้วการอบรมที่ทีปภาวัน 

สถานจัดขึ้นนั้นแบ่งออกไปสาหรับหลาก 

หลายกลุ่มด้วยกันทั้งสาหรับชาวต่าง 

ชาติและคนในพื้นที่รวมทั้งประชาชน 

ทั่วไปจากที่ต่างๆ และสาหรับนักเรียน 

ในเกาะสมุยก็จะมีการอบรมจัดขึ้นในวัน 

อาทิตย์ที่ 1 และที่ 3 ของทุกเดือนที่สวน 

ธรรมเภรี โดยการอบรมในวันเสาร์แรก 

และวันเสาร์สุดท้ายของเดือนเรียกว่า 

“สัปดาห์แสวงหาอริยทรัพย์” ส่วนการ 

อบรม “หาสุขได้จากทุกข์” จัดให้มีขึ้นใน 

วันที่ 12-17 ของทุกๆ เดือน 

สาหรับชาวต่างชาติ การอบรมจัดให้ 

มีขึ้นในวันที่ 20-27 ของทุกๆ เดือน โดย 

กิจกรรมแรกของการฝึกปฏิบัติธรรมเริ่ม 

ต้นขึ้นตอนเช้ามืดในเวลาตีสี่และจบลง 

เมื่อเวลาสามทุ่ม รวมทั้งสิ้น 17 ชั่วโมง 

สาหรับการปฏิบัติในหนึ่งวัน หรือ 119 

ชั่วโมงตลอดทั้งการอบรม โดยในหกวัน 

แรกผู้เข้ารับการอบรมต้องทบทวน 

อยู่กับตัวเอง สังเกตสภาวะของจิต 

ตลอดจนความรู้สึกนึกคิด อยู่ในความ 

สงบเงียบ ปราศจากโทรศัพท์ โทรทัศน์ 

หนังสือ หรือแม้กระทั่งการติดต่อสื่อสาร 

ใดใดก็ตาม ทั้งนี้เพื่อให้ผู้ปฏบัติได้มุ่งเจริญ 

สติภาวนาอย่างเต็มที่ในทุกๆ ตาราง 

กิจกรรมที่ร่วมฝึกปฏิบัติ 

จากนั้น ในเช้าวันที่เจ็ดทุกคนจะได้รับ 

โอกาสให้พูดและแสดงความคิดเห็น โดย 

ต่างสะท้อนออกมาเป็นเสียงเดียวกันว่า 

จะกลับมานั่งสมาธิปฏิบัติธรรมที่นี่อีก 

แน่นอน เพราะรู้สึกสงบและเป็นสุข พบว่า 

จิตใจผ่องแผ้วและกระตือรือร้นต่อชีวิต 

และการงานขึ้นกว่าเดิมมากมาย 


gallery 

Words & Photos Simon Bond 

Today, one of the highlights of a visit to Myanmar 

is taking a hot air balloon over the temples of 

Bagan. Ballooning in Myanmar is not just a modern 

phenomenon though, since traditional fire lanterns 

have launched throughout the country. 

It’s an amazing and exhilarating experience to float anywhere above land, 

let alone somewhere as beautiful as Bagan, or indeed Mandalay. Ballooning 

takes time to learn as my balloonist Allie Dunnington explained, “Training 

depends on the amount of flying hours that the student can achieve. The 

minimum for a hot air balloon licence is 16 flight hours, but many students 

take 25 hours and spread it over 2 years time of learning. We also need to pass 

written exams, have a medical and do a tether.” In my case, it’s great to fly with 

someone with such experience and passion for ballooning. 


GALLERY 

CLOCKWISE FROM Left 

Getting a bird’s eye view of the temples in Myanmar is 

the best way to see them - the geometric shapes they 

make with the line up of pagodas are amazing. In this 

photo, you can see Khutodaw Pagoda, with Sandamuni 

Pagoda in the distance. 

Much larger than the lanterns often seen in other 

parts of Asia are the fire lanterns launched in 

Myanmar. These large lanterns, which can be as big as 

the hot air balloons launched in the 19th century, need 

a much larger flame to lift off. The best place to see 

them is at the Taunggyi fire lantern festival. 

Mandalay hill is one of the most iconic sights in 

Mandalay, when viewed from either side of it, from it, 

or in this case, above it. The hill stands at 240 metres, 

has numerous temples and pagodas on it, and at its 

peak is Sutaungpyei Pagoda. 


GALLERY 

The plains of Bagan at dawn 

are a mystical sight, with 

sunrays shining through 

mist-shrouded temples. 

There are over 2,000 

Buddhist sites in this area, 

with Ananda temple being 

the finest. Those wishing to 

fly by balloon will need an 

early start, as take off is 

at sunrise. 

bottom images 

Sandamuni Pagoda is surrounded 

by lots of smaller stupas. The 

stupa has an important meaning 

in Buddhism, where the shape 

represents Buddha sitting in 

meditation on a lion throne. 

Bagan has full moon festivals that 

rotate through the major temples, 

during which you can see people 

launching lanterns into the sky. 

And if you’re lucky, they’ll include 

the larger fire lanterns. The most 

accessible is the Ananda Pagoda 

festival in early January. 


GALLERY 

Mandalay has a serene feel to it once you head 

out into the country - this image was taken north 

of Mandalay hill. Allie often flew her balloon 

over Mandalay and told me, “Most of my flights 

in Mandalay were challenging as winds tend to 

be variable and it can be quite tricky to stir the 

balloon into open spaces for landing. Many times 

I had to cross the river and landed on a sandbank 

or I flew out to the north and landed in tiny 

villages that had never seen foreign visitors.” 


GALLERY 

There are now 21 

balloons that fly over 

Bagan every morning 

from October to March; 

these are operated by 3 

companies. The balloons 

drifting over the temples 

are amazing to watch 

from ground level as 

well, especially against 

the morning light and 

the coloured sky. 

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K 

About the photographer 

Simon Bond is a travel photographer based in 

Asia, but originally from the UK. His worked has 

been published in many respected magazines, 

including National Geographic. He’s always 

looking for the story in his images, and likes to 

apply creative photography techniques to the 

scene in front of him to enhance the message 

to his audience. You can learn more about his 

photographic techniques through his book 

“Simple Scene, Sensational Shot,” or for more 

advanced photography methods, you could 

check out his blog www.creative-photographyschool.com. 

He has photographed in almost 

every country in Asia, and you can see his travel 

photography portfolio at 

www.simonbondphotography.com 


Happenings 

Know Before You Go 

Hong Kong 

Seek the modern in 

old, familiar places 

like Hong Kong. Here 

is a metropolis where 

high-rise condos 

and traditions sit 

comfortably with 

sky-high aspirations. 

bangkok 84 / chiang mai & up north 88 / samui & Krabi 92 / phuket 96 / pattaya 98 / hong kong 100 / singapore 104 / 

kuala lumpur 106 / yangon & mandalay 107 / danang & siem reap 108 / mumbai 110 / maldives 112 

83

HAPPENINGS 

THAILAND 

BANGKOK 

SPOTLIGHT 

In Bangkok, 

Jamie’s Italian 

Jamie Oliver’s got a new home 

in Bangkok. Rather, it’s his 

new eatery in town called 

Jamie’s Italian. This is the 

first restaurant in Thailand 

for the UK celebrity chef 

and down-to-earth food 

pioneer, and the latest dining 

option to his outlets in 25 

international locations. 

Jamie’s Italian is the 

perfect post shop, drop 

and dine destination in the 

heart of Bangkok’s retail 

wonderland. Bangkok’s status 

as a truly cosmopolitan city 

is most strongly felt within 

the retail-therapy wonder 

of the newly revamped 

Siam Discovery – The 

Exploratorium; a lifestyle 

shopping concept that creates 

communal spaces where 

international and local brands 

rub retail shoulders. 

The offerings of Jamie’s 

Italian serve up gut-busting 

burgers, wonderful sharing 

plates of homemade pasta 

and artisanal pizzas, along 

with antipasti delights and 

deli-styled goodies served on 

a long plank. Superfood salads 

and robust entrees such as 

smoky grilled meats cooked 

under a brick round out the 

Italian repertoire. 

Light and airy in vibe, 

Jamie’s Italian has a relaxed 

cafe ambiance by day with 

industrial chic and vintage 

design details. In the evening, 

this cool, ground floor bistro 

is an Italian food lover’s 

beacon, lit up with hipster 

hanging Edison light bulbs. 

Open for drinks at 11:00 am, 

the kitchen opens at 12:00 pm, 

and the restaurant closes at 

10:00 pm. jamiesitalian.co.th, 

+66 (0) 2255 5222 

Eco-Lounge in Tranquility 

Located only 65 kilometres from Bangkok and a ten 

minute drive from the famous Damnoen Saduak 

floating market, the asita eco resort resides amidst 

peaceful nature. Designed to preserve the rural 

countryside, the resort is adjacent to a large tranquil 

canal. It’s a chance to escape the congested city and 

relax while surrounded by countless pine trees. Stay 

in a traditional Thai house or villa, all prepared with 

eco-friendly amenities. A private swimming pool in front 

of the porch provides for the ultimate in relaxation. 

And for a particularly atmospheric touch, the nearby 

Amphawa district is well-known as a place to see 

thousands of fireflies sparkling at night along the 

riverbank. asitaresort.com 


HAPPENINGS 

THAILAND 

bangkok 

Dining on the River 

No trip to Bangkok is complete without a cruise on the 

Chao Phraya River — the city’s major water artery that 

flows into the Gulf of Thailand and the best way by far to 

enjoy it is by taking a two-and-a-half hour dinner cruise. 

This provides a perfect opportunity to see two of the Thai 

capital’s best-known sights — the Temple of Dawn (Wat 

Arun) and the Grand Palace — which are illuminated after 

dark. At the same time, guests feast on a variety of Thai 

dishes accompanied by musical entertainment from an 

onboard band. www.thairivercruise.com, +1 855 275 5071 

Artistic Dining 

Perfectly located on 

Khao San Road, the 

Mango Vegetarian 

and Vegan Restaurant 

and Art Gallery is a 

charming and intimate 

option for all those 

who would rather not 

eat meat. A wide menu 

ranges from curries and 

soups to passion fruit 

kombucha and chocolate 

pancakes with vegan 

coconut sauce. Adding 

to the charm are the 

restaurant’s two resident 

cats. www.facebook.com/ 

MANGO-Vegetarian- 

Vegan-Restaurant-and- 

Art-Gallery, +66 82 457 

9071, +66 84 908 4881 

Floral Culture 

In a quiet residential area of the Dusit district sits the Museum of 

Floral Culture, the brainchild of internationally renowned Thai floral 

artist Sakul Intakul. Created specially for lovers of flowers, nature 

and those with an interest in Thai art and culture, the museum 

focuses on floral culture — an important part of the Thai way of life. 

Find unique exhibits of floral cultures from civilizations across Asia. 

Built in the reign of King Rama VI, the structure itself is a beautifully 

preserved, 100 year-old teak mansion with colonial architecture. The 

Museum and its atmospheric garden, complete with a traditional 

Thai pavilion and the charming Dok Mai Thai Salon du Thé, can be 

rented to provide a unique setting for special events. floralmuseum.com 

SPOTLIGHT 

The Bigness of Miniatures 

They’re the talk of the town. How does Anfield Stadium from Liverpool and Hoover Dam from the US get to the 

neighbourhood of Ekamai in Bangkok? They’re in miniature sizes versions brought by Stanley MiniVenture, an 

edutainment company specialising in 1:87, which is a measurement for miniature scale models. 

They’ve recently launched the first miniature town in Thailand and the largest of its kind in Asia. Apart 

from familiar landmarks around the world, there’s a model railroad roundhouse, even tiny figurines of people 

in day-to-day activities. 

Despite the small scale size of this “town,” it still spans over 1,000 square metres on the second floor of 

the Gateway Ekamai shopping mall in Bangkok. Stanley MiniVenture comes with 11 theme zones, including a 

desert, beach, cave, residential life, historical places and the airport. A Thai zone features popular locales like 

Chinatown and Victory Monument too. Day tickets for adults are 650 Baht and 450 Baht for children who are 

80-130 centimetres tall. 

stanleyminiventure.com, now until May 31, opens daily 12:15 pm - 8:00 pm 


HAPPENINGS 

THAILAND 

CHIANG MAI / chiang rai / mae hong son 

SPOTLIGHT 

Time for Tea 

For half a century, Choui Fong Tea has been well-known for the top quality 

of its traditional teas which are cultivated in its own gardens in Chiang Rai. 

The region is regarded as the agricultural centre of the Kingdom of Thailand. 

Choui Fong Tea grows several distinctive types of tea and produces assam, 

green, oolong and black teas in the highlands at 1,200 metres above sea 

level. There, the ideal climate and soil conditions permit the cultivation of 

excellent teas. A visit to the plantation provides an excellent way to discover 

the stunning scenery of Chiang Rai province and also a chance to sample and 

purchase some wonderful brews. chouifongtea.com 

Moroccan Romantic 

If you and your loved one are into Morocco yet have not had a chance to visit, here’s a 

place that gets you close enough to the country to make some memories. Sheik Istana, 

a luxury hotel in Chiang Mai, whose design was inspired by Moroccan architecture, sits 

on the bank of the Ping river which runs through the city. You can dine in the romantic 

atmosphere surrounded by Moroccan gardens at the restaurant terrace overlooking the 

Ping river. Also take in the stunning scene of Wat Chedi Liam, one of the ancient temples 

in Wiang Kum Kam, a view that can also be enjoyed from your guestroom terrace. An 

added plus: from New Year’s Eve until the end of February, get a 50 per cent discount for 

the second night. sheikistanahotel.com, +66 (0) 53 273 142, +66 (0) 89 851 2929 

In Coffee We Trust 

We now have more good reasons to 

enjoy our morning coffee, and with 

help from Dhepprathan Coffee. A 

morning cup of coffee or tea may do 

more than just perk you up. Some 

studies say that caffeine acts as an 

antioxidant and helps prevent the 

damaging effects of free radicals that 

have been linked to heart disease and 

Alzheimer’s. Dhepprathan’s coffee 

beans are sourced from an organic, 

family-owned plantation in the Sob 

Moei District of Mae Hong Son in 

Northern Thailand. This means that 

this fine Arabica coffee plant is grown 

at 1,035 to 1,250 metres above sea 

level. Its high-quality medium to dark 

roast beans give a complex aroma and 

exquisite taste; the perfect choice for 

coffee connoisseurs. 

Dhepprathan Coffee 

provides only one 

blend in three 

types of packaging: 

ground coffee or 

whole roasted 

coffee beans in a 

250g paper bag and 

15g ground coffee 

in a portable and 

specially designed 

bag. dhepprathan@ 

gmail.com; LINE ID: 

DHEPPRATHAN or 

+66 (0) 84 009 3366 


HAPPENINGS 

THAILAND 

Hilltribe Discoveries 

Northern Thailand is noteworthy for its various hilltribes and 

many visitors take extensive treks to be with the tribes. A good 

way to begin learning about the unique history and culture of 

the tribes is at the Hilltribe Museum and Education Centre in 

Chiang Rai. In addition to an informative slide show, visitors can 

learn about typical traditional clothing, their use of bamboo, 

histories and the various community projects the museum helps 

fund. www.pdacr.org 

Become a Yoga Pro 

The Yoga Teachers Training Course 

programme, designed by the Wise 

Living Yoga Academy (accredited by 

Yoga Alliance, USA & The International 

Board of Yoga, India) intends to provide 

a strong foundation in Yoga for those 

who are interested regardless of ages 

and nationalities. The 200-hour courses 

(International Programmes) are held 

several times a year at the Yoga centre 

in Chiang Mai and will provide an 

internationally recognised Yoga Certificate 

for participants who successfully 

complete the course. 

teachertraining.wiselivingyoga.com 

Festive Artisan Umbrellas 

Located six kilometres from Chiang 

Mai town, the Handmade Umbrella 

and Handicrafts Festival is held on the 

third weekend in January. This annnual 

event is a celebration of the more than 

100-year-old tradition of umbrella making 

in the village of Bo Sang. It is said that a 

monk travelling in Myanmar learned of 

a unique technique of using saa paper 

for making umbrellas. Saa paper has 

unique properties for umbrella making 

– it is lightweight, durable and its grain 

structure prevents water from easily 

seeping through. The monk brought this 

technique to the artisans of Bo Sang 

who were already known for the quality 

of their work. As a result, they used their 

artisan skills and turned saa paper into 

umbrellas that has become a uniquely 

Thai craft. +66 (0) 53 338 956, 

+66 (0) 53 338 049 

SPOTLIGHT 

Chiang Mai by Night 

One of the best ways to discover Chiang Mai is to participate in a three-hour privately 

guided night tour. Led by a knowledgeable guide, participants will first visit a Buddhist 

temple and see chanting monks during meditation. After the temple, the guide brings 

participants to a six-course dinner of delicious Northern Thai specialities in a charming 

garden setting. For dessert, this will be sampled in true Thai fashion from street vendors at 

Warorot Market. The tour includes round-trip hotel transport by private vehicle. viator.com 

Photo: Wongtawee Taweepasas 


HAPPENINGS 

THAILAND 

samui 

SPOTLIGHT 

A Burger Challenge, Anyone? 

Organically Samui 

Little convincing is needed on the benefits of organic produce, 

and going on holiday should not mean going without such 

options. In Samui, there’s a green market that’s held every six 

weeks for anyone to continue conscious eating. Find your vendors 

at the Elysia Boutique Resort at the Fisherman’s Village on the 

island’s north coast. Visitors are introduced to different kinds of 

healthy foods that are locally sourced and grown, not to mention 

getting locally made crafts as well. The experience includes great 

music, accompanied by lots to eat and drink. 

samuimala.org, +66 (0) 86 909 0373 

It can’t be anywhere else but Stacked if 

you’re a burger lover who loves a challenge. 

Located in front of OZO Hotel at Chaweng 

beach on Samui island, Stacked offers 

a diverse cuisine from seafood to steak. 

Among their activities is a burger challenge 

that’s become popular and lets you 

gauge just how much you can eat. 

Stacked challenges you to eat 4 

burgers served with double fries 

and double slaw in 20 minutes. If 

you can clean the plate in time, 

the burger will all be yours – 

free of charge. If not, you pay 

the price! stacked-samui.com, 

+66 (0) 7791 5222 

Just the Two of Us 

How about considering a 

getaway to rediscover true 

romance? Book yourself a 

holiday at Amari Koh Samui 

and take them up on the offer 

of a romantic package, “Just 

the Two of Us”, which includes 

three nights accommodation 

and round-trip transfers from 

Samui International Airport. 

Complimentary wine, fruits 

and flowers awaits, while 

an hour long signature 

massage at Breeze Spa 

relaxes you both before the 

candlelight dinner. The 

rate begins from THB 

36,000 per couple 

for a three-night stay. 

The offer is valid through 

August 31, 2017. 

amari.com/koh-samui, 

+66 (0) 77 230 077 

Sea Kayaking 

When you fly into Koh Samui, 

take note of the small clusters 

of islands that’s part of the 

Ang Thong National Marine 

Park. For a closer look, how 

about taking a journey on a 

sea kayak along the coastline 

of one of its islands, Koh Mae 

Hok? During this organised trip, 

you get to cruise beneath huge 

overhanging rocks and enjoy 

some of the most beautiful 

beaches in Thailand. Other 

attractions include one of the 

greatest sights - that of a former 

enormous cavern whose ceiling 

has since collapsed – and 

now a saltwater lake. Called Tai 

Plao, the lake is now a haven 

to a wide variety of marine 

life. To ensure a better look, an 

exciting snorkelling experience is 

available as part of the trip. 

tourismthailand.org/About- 

Thailand/Destination/Ko-Samui 


HAPPENINGS 

THAILAND 

SAMUI / KRABI 

Red for Roosters, Red for Love 

Bring on the celebration or create some romance if you decide to go to Krabi for either 

the Chinese New Year or Valentine’s Day. Make it a holiday getaway at the Centara 

Grand Beach Resort & Villas. For Chinese New Year, they’ll serve a buffet of Asian 

specialties. Come Valentine’s day, the menu features surf and turf, not to mention 

the freshest seafood, barbecue, and pieces de resistance of strawberry and chocolate 

desserts. Nestled within its own bay, the resort is accessible by boat only. But once 

there, you can experience the stunning views and ambience of understated luxury. 

centarahotelsresorts.com 

Cave Offerings 

While many visitors to Krabi’s Phra 

Nang beach simply go there to enjoy 

the white sand and stunning scenery, 

there is much more to the area. Visit a 

cave to make offerings to Phra Nang 

herself, the Princess Goddess. They say 

that she lives underneath a cliff that’s 

found towards the end of the beach. 

This belief goes back many centuries 

and visitors should be mindful that this 

is a sacred place to be respected. And 

do as the locals do by visiting the cliff 

to make an offering or wish for luck or 

safe travels. 

tourismthailand.org/About-Thailand/ 

Destination/Krabi 

SPOTLIGHT 

Last Resorts to Luxury 

There’s no such thing as too much of a good 

thing when we’re talking about beach resorts. 

Last December, Celes Beachfront Resort Koh 

Samui debuted next to its sister, Samui Palm 

Beach Resort on Bophut beach. This area was 

once a village and home to former Thai and 

Chinese communities. Now the re-developed 

area has a laid back and contemporary deluxe 

boutique, with luxurious beachfront pool 

villas. Their beachfront runs 270 metres 

long with a stunning view of Koh Phangnan. 

In the neighbouring area lies the pristine 

Bophut beach with the equally luxurious 

Celes Beachfront Resort Koh Samui, whose 

beachfront pool villas serve as getaways for 

couples and families. You can hire boats 

to neighbouring islands, a nearby national 

marine park, and even other villages. Or 

engage in the true beach tradition of reading 

and relaxing by the pool. There will be a 

special theme on Chinese New Year, and a 3 

days 2 nights package offering from 15 Jan to 

31 Mar. The surrounding areas are great for 

nature lovers. celesresorts.com, +66 (0) 77 425 

494-5, +66 (0) 77 900 999, samuipalmbeach.com, 

+66 (0) 77 425 494-5 


HAPPENINGS 

Thailand 

Phuket 

Perfect Bodies 

If you have always wanted to undergo fitness training in Thailand, 

the Bikini Bods Group Trip, conducted at the Tiger Muay Thai Camp, 

is the perfect way to attain that perfect bikini body. And it’s not only 

for ladies, as men are more than welcome to attend. A whole range 

of classes include Muay Thai, crossfit, yoga, cardio, beach classes 

and weight training. But it’s not just all about training as there will be 

plenty of opportunities to go on boat trips and explore the delights 

of Phuket yourself. bikinibods.com.au, January 4 to 10 

Mindful Wellbeing 

The idyllic setting of Phuket is the destination for those wishing to improve the quality 

of their lives and aim for a perfect state of physical and emotional wellbeing. Mare & 

Mindfulness offers an evolutionary holiday and a chance to experience a different type of 

tourism that combines a bit of Eastern philosophy. 

Vacation with a programme that offers training in the five main principles of mindfulness 

and a special nutrition menu that will also ensure physical detoxification. Breakfast and 

dinner are included in the programme, but a complimentary lunch can be arranged to comply 

with the dietary guidelines delivered at the start of the holiday. Those who want to lose 

weight can join a special programme, while at the same time enjoy the pleasurable discovery 

of delightful Thai cuisine. www.ritiroinparadiso.com, February 18 to 26 

Marine Experience 

Marine Expedition Thailand offers the 

unique experience of enjoying activities 

above and below the warm blue waters 

of the Andaman Sea. Participants can 

sail along Thailand’s beautiful western 

coast and at the same time join in a 

marine research expedition. Participants 

will receive an education in marine 

science with topics covering manta rays, 

sharks, coral and plankton. On board is 

an experienced skipper who will teach 

sailing and coastal navigation while 

sea life will be covered by a marine 

biologist. www.dr-olaf.com, February 12 

SPOTLIGHT 

Salt Life Palette 

Zoe Olivia Young, a rising talent in the Sydney art scene, 

is now an artist in residence at one of Samui’s top 

boutique hotel. Her unique work entitled “Salt Life” is 

on display at Mom Tri’s Villa Royale gallery until the end 

of April. Zoe’s paintings are marked by her eclectic use 

of colours and eye for landscapes, along with her still life 

compositions depicting a more natural and slower 

pace of life. 

Instagram @zoeoliviayoung 


HAPPENINGS 

THAILAND 

pattaya 

Clifftop Splendour 

Located on a cliff headland overlooking 

the Gulf of Thailand, the InterContinental 

Pattaya Resort is just a two-hour 

drive away from Bangkok. In addition 

to the wide range of facilities to be 

expected from the hotel, guests have 

a choice of dining at the Infiniti and 

Elements restaurants. Furthermore, 

launching on January 1 is the Club 

InterContinental®, a remarkable and 

exclusive haven within the resort. 

It is an unprecedented blend of intuitive 

service, exclusive benefits, unparalleled 

luxury, stylish signature décor and 

enhanced thoughtful amenities, 

featuring assistance and guidance from 

a 24-hour personal butler, as well as 

private check-in and -out convenience. 

intercontinental.com/pattayaresort, 

+66 (0) 38 259 888 

Yacht Charters 

Chartering a yacht is one of the most 

exciting and yet relaxing ways to 

discover the Gulf of Thailand. Pattaya’s 

surrounding coastline has numerous 

islands little known to most tourists and 

all boat charters from Pattaya Yacht 

Charters are permitted to anchor off 

some of the most spectacular beaches 

on the Pattaya archipelago. Destinations 

include Koh Khram, Koh Rin and Monkey 

Island with vessels ranging from sailing 

yachts to party boats. Deep sea fishing is 

also offered. pattayayachtcharters.com 

SPOTLIGHT 

Wonderfruit 

Festival Goes 

Green 

Thailand’s biggest art, 

music and life festival 

has set new dates on the 

field of Siam Country 

Club, Pattaya. The 

upcoming 4-day festival 

is jam-packed with 

various artists such as 

Rudimental, Lianne La 

Havas and Shura, JUNUN 

featuring Shye Ben Tzur 

& the Rajasthan Express 

and the return of Molam 

Bus by Jim Thompson Art 

Centre. Other interesting 

activities include; multisensory 

installation over 

the lotus pond, organic 

painting, giant mandalamaking, 

Wushu, Shoalin 

Kungfu, Taichi and wood 

carving workshop. This 

year Wonderfruit also 

aims for carbon positive 

by investing in the 

Rimba Raya Biodiversity 

Reserve in Indonesia. 

Wonderfruit ticket holders 

are participating in an 

ecologically-conscious 

event meanwhile having 

fun. February 16-19, 

wonderfruitfestival.com 


HAPPENINGS 

hong kong 

SPOTLIGHT 

Deliciously 

Demonic 

He may have named 

himself the Demon Chef, 

but there is so much 

more to Alvin Leung’s 

cuisine than mere 

provocation. Located in 

the bustling district of 

Wan Chai, the restaurant 

Bo Innovation sports 

three Michelin stars and 

promises diners “X-treme 

Chinese Cuisine” and 

an experience which 

is, in the words of its 

founder, both “exotic 

and erotic.” A former 

engineer, Leung came late 

to the restaurant business 

but has in recent years 

certainly made up for lost 

time. In addition to his 

Hong Kong restaurant, 

Leung has carved out 

a successful television 

career as well. Visitors 

to Bo Innovation can 

sample such creations as 

the “Baby Food” black 

truffle, “chian dan chee” 

(basically a spam egg 

sandwich with a twist), 

foie gras “mui choi” with 

green apple and ginger 

and, as is to expected, 

Leung’s special take on 

the distinctive Chinese 

soup dumplings, “xiao 

long bao.” Bo Innovation, 

1/F J Senses, 60 Johnston Rd., 

Wan Chai, +852 2850 8371 

Dragons and Lions 

Welcome 2017 

Hundreds of dragon and lion dancers 

bring their game on with a parade on 

Jan 1 while fierce competitions 

with high flying lion dance techniques 

follow on Jan 2. Later in the month, 

a Night Parade in the streets of 

Tsim Sha Tsui on Jan 28 celebrates 

the Chinese New Year, concluding with 

fireworks displays to announce the Year 

of the Rooster. 


HAPPENINGS 

HONG KONG 

SPOTLIGHT 

Ngong Ping 360 Closed for Maintenance 

The Ngong Ping 360 cable car is scheduled to suspend its service from early January 2017 for rope 

replacement. The maintenance project should complete in early June 2017. The Ngong Ping Rescue 

Trail also will not be open to visitors during the replacement period to ensure public safety. 

However, Ngong Ping village with their shops and entertainment venues remain open. 

Visitors can buy the bus tour package at the Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal or take other modes of 

transport to Ngong Ping village and beyond to Tian Tan Buddha statue, and Po Lin monastery. 

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong MRT Corporation recently extended the Kwun Tong Line to the new 

Ho Man Tin and Whampoa stations. During weekday non-peak periods, the average train service 

frequency is three minutes for all Kwun Tong Line stations. 

Let’s join the locals in exploring Hong Kong further! 

Photo Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong 

High End High Tea 

At the Mandarin Oriental’s Clipper Lounge, 

it’s all about elegant takes on high tea 

classics that pay homage to their British 

roots. These include smoked salmon and 

cream cheese on homemade pumpernickel 

bread, ham and picallili baguette, pork and 

fennel sausage rolls or choux buns filled 

with coronation chicken. Sweet treats 

include blueberry cheesecake, strawberry 

mousse and the hotel’s much-loved opera 

cake. Top it all off with plain or raisin 

scones served with Devonshire clotted 

cream and the hotel’s own rose petal jam. 

Clipper Lounge, Mandarin Oriental 

Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Rd., Central, 

+852 2825 4007 

Longines Master Riders 

Following events in Los Angeles and Paris, this elite showjumping 

event culminates in Hong Kong at Asia-World Expo, where the 

world’s best riders, decision makers and VIPs will gather for three 

days of sporting action. Visitors can experience innovative and 

exhilarating world-class showjumping competitions, while at the 

same time enjoy a wide range of culinary and cultural events, 

including activities for the young ones. February 9-12, 

longinesmasters.com; booking at cityline.com and +852 3761 6515 


HAPPENINGS 

SINGAPORE 

SPOTLIGHT 

Let’s Rock 

Located just a short walk 

from the beach and a part of 

Resorts World Sentosa, the 

Hard Rock Hotel features 

fun and fantastic decor 

inspired by rock and roll 

culture. The hotel boasts an 

infinity swimming pool, a 

6,500-seater ballroom, 30 

function rooms and a 24-hour 

fitness centre. Guestrooms 

keep with the rock and roll 

theme, along with ensuite 

bathrooms designed like 

backstage dressing rooms. 

Diners can enjoy the Starz 

Restaurant which offers 

an international lunch and 

dinner buffet and also the 

Rock Pool Bar and the Rock 

Bar with live entertainment. 

Resorts World Sentosa 

includes Universal Studios, 

the world’s largest 

oceanarium, a waterpark 

and the Maritime 

Experiential Museum. 

8 Sentosa Gateway, Sentosa 

Island, +65 6577 8888 

Mexican Favourites 

It is true that Singapore is home 

to a whole wide range of cuisines, 

but Mexican may not be the most 

obvious — unless it is Margarita’s 

at Dempsey Hill. The restaurant 

has declared its goal to serve 

unpretentious good food prepared 

in the special Mexican way. And it 

is food that is both great to look 

at and taste. How about starting 

off with a cheese fondue with taco 

chips? Then follow this with main 

courses such as roasted sweet 

potato and chilli japaleño, baked 

crab enchiladas or a “kitchen sink” 

burrito. @margaritasdempsey, 11 

Dempsey Rd., +65 6471 3228 

Exuberant Chingay Parade 

Singapore’s Chingay procession is the largest street performance 

and float parade in the whole of Asia and is an extravaganza which 

epitomises the dynamism of Singapore’s vibrant and multicultural 

society. February 10-11, chingay.org.sg/chingay-2017 

SPOTLIGHT 

Breathtaking CÉ LA VI 

Elevated above the SkyPark Observation Deck of Marina Bay Sands, CÉ LA VI offers breathtaking 

panoramic views of the city skyline and the Singapore Straits to enhance a truly fine dining 

experience. The multi-level CÉ LA VI Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily, providing a 

la carte menu options as well as tasting menus that allow diners to sample a selection of dishes 

created by international chefs. Enjoy elegant indoor dining while looking out from floor-toceiling 

windows or choose an al fresco table adjacent to the SkyBar on the terrace. The SkyBar is a 

vibrant circular bar where talented bartenders shake, stir and serve up classic and signature 

CÉ LA VI cocktails. celavi.com, +65 6508 2188 

Middle Eastern Delights 

The restaurant has been on the receiving end 

of multiple rave reviews – and this is in itself an 

achievement in a city obsessed with food. The 

Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine at artichoke 

restaurant most certainly does not fail to 

disappoint. In addition to a wide range of “mezze” 

plates (such as figs with goat cheese), hungry 

diners should try delicacies like slow-roasted 

lamb shoulder, Wagyu beef with a chilli harissa 

dip, hot skillet prawns and duck kebab tacos with 

innovative avocado hummus. 

artichoke.com.sg, +65 6336 6949 

Soaring Success of Symphony 

In recent years, through its performances in Singapore and around the world — not to mention a growing 

portfolio of recordings — the Singapore Symphony Orchestra has been garnering a well-earned reputation 

for excellence. Now the orchestra teams up with the charistmatic Venezuelan maestro Gustavo Dudamel 

for a gala concert in the island nation’s durian-shaped Esplanade concert hall. January 5-6, sso.org.sg 


HAPPENINGS 

MALAYSIA 

KUALA LUMPUR 

Myanmar 

yangon / mandalay 

SPOTLIGHT 

The Pawn Room 

With an atmosphere reminiscent of an ancient Chinese pawn shop, The Pawn 

Room takes visitors back to a 1920s Shanghai, decorated with paper lanterns, 

rattan chairs and herbalist cabinets. And the pawn shop concept doesn’t just 

stop there. On certain nights, visitors may choose to trade their belongings or 

services to work at the bar in exchange for cocktails. A wide range of cocktails 

include those with a particular Asian focus and ingredients, including that of 

kaffir lime leaves, pandan syrup and cream. And should you wish for a change 

of scene, try out The Private Room wine lounge located on the same street, 

operated by the same management. www.facebook.com/tprttdi, +60 13-483 8863 

SPOTLIGHT 

Top Chef by the Lake 

Leading Swiss chef Boris Granges is now at the helm of Le Planteur, a 

restaurant in a stunning colonial-era waterfront property on picturesque 

Inya Lake. Fine dining continues despite several incarnations since 

the restaurant’s modest opening in 1998. Le Planteur consists of several 

dining and drinking venues to suit all tastes with their upscale restaurant, 

a bistro, wine bar and a tearoom for high teas. The excellent menu ranges 

from a tender fillet of cod and foie gras with pear chutney to a dessert of 

wasabi ice cream. leplanteur.net, +95 1 514 230 

Afternoon Teas 

Asian destinations with a strong colonial 

past have revived the delights of an 

extensive afternoon tea, especially Kuala 

Lumpur. Charming spreads include dainty 

sandwiches and scones with jam and 

clotted cream. Locations offering a superior 

afternoon tea experience include Lounge 

On the Park at the Mandarin Oriental, 

Serena Brasserie at the InterContinental, 

The Drawing Room at the St. Regis and the 

Orchid Observatory at the Majestic. For a 

Malaysian-inspired menu, try OneFiveSix at 

the InterContinental. 

mandarinaoriental.com, kualalumpur. 

intercontinental.com, stregiskualalumpur.com, 

majestickl.com 

A Taste of Thailand 

It’s always good to eat Thai food and nowhere is it 

better in Kuala Lumpur than at Baan Kanom Jeen, 

with its focus on different combinations of thin rice 

noodles with curries, gravies and sauces. Try the 

Kanom Jeen Set with noodle balls, 

sauces, boiled eggs, anchovies and 

leafy herbs and vegetables. 

Other delicious items on 

the menu include green 

curry with fried rice 

and fish, phad thai 

and a mouthwatering 

selection of desserts. 

www.facebook.com/ 

baankanomjeenmy 

Contemporary by Tradition 

Mogok Pauk Pauk, a Myanmar transgender fashion designer in Yangon, is now on the list 

of top Southeast Asian designers. After graduating from renown fashion design institutes 

in Milan and Paris, she returned home and dedicated her work to creating awareness of 

the traditional Myanmar textile design known as luntaya acheik. At Pauk Pauk’s studio in 

Mandalay, villagers create traditional patterns with old weaving methods. In collaboration, 

she adds design touches into the patterns to give a sense of the contemporary to the 

textiles. www.mogokpaukpauk.com; Yangon +95 9 2522 4048; Mandalay +95 2 666 28 

Garden of Spices 

Justifiably proud to be the only Indian-Myanmar fine dining 

restaurant in Mandalay, the Spice Garden is an elegant restaurant 

serving Myanmar, Northern and Southern Indian cuisines with a 

strong focus on poultry, seafood and vegetarian dishes. Guests 

can dine on such Myanmar delights as refreshing salads and 

curries. Desserts include Indian favourites like rasmalai, gulab 

jamun and kheer. Food enthusiasts can even learn how to prepare 

the restaurant’s dishes in specially organised cooking classes with 

the resident chefs. hotelredcanal.com 


107

HAPPENINGS 

vietnam / cambodia 

danang / SIEM REAP 

SPOTLIGHT 

Lie-in For 

Harmony 

Work on your mind and 

body without having 

to move an inch. Lie 

down to the ultimate 

experience at HARNN 

Heritage Spa that’s at the 

InterContinental Danang 

Sun Peninsula Resort and 

let spa therapists work 

to restore the natural 

balance to your body and 

mind. Methods here are 

inspired by the practice of 

traditional Asian medicine 

and naturopathy. 

The finest botanical 

ingredients also inspire 

restorative harmony and 

health. You’ll also feel more 

relaxed to know that the spa 

was crowned 

in 2016 as Asia’s Best 

Resort Spa at the World 

Spa Awards. Dash through 

the terminal to de-stress 

because treatments are 

also available in the VIP 

departure lounge of 

Danang International 

Airport. 

danang.intercontinental.com 

Cambodian Luxe for Two 

Thoughts for two this February? Consider a Heritage Package 

meant for two people by the Sokha Siem Reap Resort. Centrally 

located in Siem Reap, the resort is done in traditional Cambodian 

decor with French colonial touches. Travellers can discover the 

very best of the Angkor archaeological park with the package 

offering a one-day sightseeing tour to a definite must – the Angkor 

Wat Complex — complete with a tour guide. Afterwards, enjoy a 

30-minute foot massage, dinner for two at Lotus Restaurant, and 

complimentary use of spa facilities. 

sokhahotels.com 

Swing with a View 

This is the second year for the Vietnam Golf Trophy (VGT) 

tournament, following its previous success in Hanoi in 2016. 

VGT 2017 tees off in Danang, Vietnam’s fourth largest city for 5 

days, 4 nights and 3 rounds of golf in a selection of 3 world-class 

golf courses set in natural settings and unique landscapes in an 

area that boasts one of the best coastlines. Choices for the 3 golf 

courses include the Danang Golf Club, designed by Australian 

golf legend Greg Norman, and lies close to 2 of Vietnam’s most 

historic destinations – UNESCO World Heritage sites Hoi An 

and Hue. Swing that golf club to magnificent views of the Marble 

Mountains, the East Sea and the Cham Islands. Another golf 

course is the Montgomerie Link, designed by Scottish golfer 

Colin Montgomerie, located near the renowned China Beach, 

and Ba Na Hills Golf Club by Luke Donald; surrounded by 

picturesque hills. 

February 12-16, 

vietnamgolftrophy.com 


109

HAPPENINGS 

INDIA 

mumbai 

SPOTLIGHT 

Caving In 

For a change of pace from Mumbai’s exhilarating energy, it is worthwhile to 

escape to a plethora of deep, ancient and mysterious caves not far from the 

city. The Elephanta caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is on an island 11 

kilometres away from Mumbai and reachable via a charming boat journey. 

Easily reached as well are the Kanheri caves on the outskirts of the city and 

hidden in lush green hills which clearly traces the development of Buddhism 

in Western India. Finally, there are the Shaiva caves at Borivali known as 

Mandapeshvara. Explore the awe-inspiring formations that have stood the 

test of time and offer a tranquil break from the city. maharashtratourism.gov.in 

Designer Dining 

Eat in bi-level style in a space designed by Kapil Gupta, one of India’s 

leading architects, Tote on the Turf is set amidst a lush canopy of 

100-year-old trees with a stunning backdrop of historic buildings and 

the green of Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Race Course. Integrating cuttingedge 

design techniques with traditional elements, making Tote an 

award-winning venture in architecture, design and hospitality. And 

there’s Neel, the specialty Indian restaurant on the ground level of 

Tote, whose focus pays homage to the rich and evolved cuisine of 

old Nawabi families from Lucknow, Hyderabad and Kashmir. The 

blend of authentic flavours, textures and colours of the dining space 

indeed creates a sensational culinary experience. thetote.in 

Fashionable Favourites 

Mumbai can clearly be designated as India’s 

most fashionable metropolis and visitors 

have a wide range of retail options in order 

to bring home something exotic, colourful 

and distinctive. In addition to browsing 

markets and roadside stalls just where are 

the coolest spots in the city? Bungalow 8, 

housed in an austere concrete mansion, is a 

three-floor lifestyle shop containing a wide 

range of Asian homeware and fashion. Wellknown 

for its desirable menswear it also has 

its own in-house fashion line, The Bungalow. 

Le Mill is a former rice mill from the 1930s 

in the docklands and in addition to fashion 

houses a florist and café. Bombay Electric, 

just around the corner from the Taj Mahal 

Palace Hotel, features fashion from up-andcoming 

Indian designers, jewellery and even 

retro Bollywood posters. bungaloweight.com, 

lemilldindia.com, bombayelectric.in 


HAPPENINGS 

MALdives 

SPOTLIGHT 

A Real Retreat 

How about getting away from it all by retreating to the superb resort of Sun 

Aqua Vilu Reef? Accessible by a 40-minute seaplane flight in which guests 

can truly discover the beauty of the area from the air, this excellent resort 

offers guests a multitude of activities such as snorkelling around the natural 

reefs, excursions to local untouched islands and canoes that guests can use 

to explore the islands themselves. A wide range of bars and restaurants 

include the popular Dhoni Boat buffet which is located right on the beach 

and serves delicious fresh seafood. www.sunaqua.com, +960 676 0011 

Underwater Bikers 

By far one of the best – and most unusual – ways to discover the 

undersea wonders of the Maldives is a scooter three metres below 

the surface. Working on an upside-down cup principle where 

the helmet is filled with air, both one and two-seater scooters are 

available for the 30-minute experience. The scooters require no 

prior training and even children from the age of ten are allowed to 

ride them. www.underwater-scooters.com, +687 79 73 99 

A Place of Remembrance 

Holidays should be a time for fun and relaxation but when visiting the Maldives, it is well 

worth taking the time to remember the terrible 2004 tsunami that afflicted the Indian 

Ocean. The Tsunami Monument in Malé is dedicated to all those who lost their lives on 

December 26, 2004. It is notable for its unique design including a core of iron rods, each 

of which represents a life lost with the victim’s name engraved on it. The monument is a 

worthy place for peace and contemplation. Boduthakurufaanu Magu, 960 Male’ 


Corporate 

bangkok airways news 116 / flyerbonus 124 / route map 126 / aircraft info 128 

115

Bangkok Airways NEWS 

Bangkok Airways organises 

a memorial ceremony to 

honour HM King Bhumibol 

A memorial ceremony honouring 

His Majesty the late King Bhumibol 

Adulyadej was organised by Bangkok 

Airways Public Company Limited and 

led by President Capt. Puttipong 

Prasarttong-Osoth, with the attendance 

of the executive management 

and staff on November 10, 2016. 

Mr. Puttipong read a tribute 

to His Majesty and joined with every 

staff member for a moment of 

silence. In respectful homage, 

everyone gathered together and 

sang the royal anthem “Sansoen Phra 

Barami” for the late King. The 

ceremony took place at the Head 

Office of Bangkok Airways on 

Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. 

บางกอกแอร์เวย์สจัดพิธีถวายอาลัยแด่ 

พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพล 

อดุลยเดช 

บริษัท การบินกรุงเทพ จากัด (มหาชน) 

หรือสายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส นาโดย 

นายพุฒิพงศ์ ปราสาททองโอสถ 

กรรมการผู้อานวยการใหญ่ พร้อมคณะ 

ผู้บริหารและพนักงาน จัดพิธีถวายอาลัย 

เบื้องหน้าพระบรมฉายาลักษณ์ พระบาท- 

สมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช 

เพื่อน้อมราลึกในพระมหากรุณาธิคุณ 

อันหาที่สุดมิได้ โดยมีนายพุฒิพงศ์กล่าว 

บทกลอนถวายอาลัย และร่วมกับพนักงาน 

ยืนสงบนิ่งถวายอาลัยเป็นเวลา 99 วินาที 

ต่อด้วยการร้องเพลงสรรเสริญพระบารมี 

ณ สานักงานใหญ่ สายการบินบางกอก- 

แอร์เวย์ส ถ.วิภาวดีรังสิต 


BANGKOK AIRWAYS NEWS 

The late King Bhumibol Adulyadej has been 

honoured as the “Father of Thai Rice Research and 

Development” for his great contributions which led to 

food security and economic, social, and cultural stability. 

On October 2016, the Thai cabinet accorded 

His Majesty the new honorary title in the field of rice, 

along with his late grandfather King Rama V, who was 

also honoured as the “Father of Thai Rice Reform.” 

King Rama V brought major changes to rice farming 

together with improvements to the state’s management 

of the rice trade and transportation. 

His Majesty King Bhumibol commenced rice research 

and development in various royally initiated projects. 

He suggested the re-introduction of the annual Royal 

Cultivating Ceremony and the Royal Ploughing Ceremony 

to boost the morale of Thai farmers. 

Today, Thailand is a major source of rice cultivation 

with the largest amount produced for global markets. 

It is also recognised as the centre for research and 

study of rice varieties. 

Photo: Thewin Chanyawong 

Thailand’s prized 

products, such as 

rice, are part of an 

ongoing government 

campaign to 

bring increased 

awareness in 

regional and 

global markets. 

The Glorious Thai Rice 

Rice has long been Thailand’s traditional food crop 

whose history can be traced back 5,500 years 

alongside the birth of Thai civilisation. Archaeologists 

found traces of rice husks in clay used in making 

ancient pottery at the archaeological sites of 

Ban Chiang in Udon Thani province and in 

Khon Kaen province. 

Presently in Thailand, round-grain rice is grown 

in northern rice fields, while long-grain rice is more 

common in the central and southern parts of the 

country. Mostly harvested in the northeast is Thai 

jasmine rice, considered the world’s best. 

Royal Contributions in Rice Farming 

Over the years, His Majesty the late King Bhumibol 

Adulyadej paid great attention to the preservation 

of Thai rice. His Majesty’s active work in quality rice 

development has been globally renowned. In 1996, the 

International Rice Research Institute conferred him with 

a gold medal of International Rice Award, the first and 

only one to be given by the institute. Throughout his 

reign of over half a century, the late monarch played 

a vital role in promoting and improving rice production, 

as well as supporting research and the development of 

rice varieties. 

อันว่าข้าวไทยนั้นเป็นที่ขึ้นชื่อเลื่องลือมานานนับในตลาดโลก 

ถึงความหอม นุ่ม อร่อย ยิ่งต่อมาได้รับการสนับสนุนส่งเสริมงาน 

วิจัยในด้านการทำนุบำรุงและพัฒนาพันธุ์ข้าวตลอดระยะเวลา 

กว่าครึ่งศตวรรษจากองค์พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทร- 

มหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดชด้วยแล้ว ข้าวไทยจึงยิ่งโดดเด่นด้วยคุณภาพสูง 

จนเป็นที่ยอมรับกันไปทั่วโลก สถาบันวิจัยข้าวนานาชาติ (IRRI) 

จึงได้น้อมเกล้าฯ ถวายเหรียญทอง “International Rice Award” 

แด่พระองค์ท่าน ในปี 2539 เพียงพระองค์แรกและพระองค์เดียวในโลก 

ปัจจุบันข้าวไทยมีหลากหลายพันธุ์ สามารถนำไปแปรรูป 

และประกอบอาหารได้หลายรูปแบบ ทั้งขนมและคาวหวาน 

ในมื้อหลักต่างๆ นานาแทรกอยู่ในทุกวัฒนธรรมอาหารการกิน 

ทั่วโลก รัฐบาลถือเป็นนโยบายสำคัญที่จะผลักดันให้ข้าวไทย 

ก้าวไกลอย่างมั่นคง เพื่อเป็นการสานต่อพระปณิธานในพระองค์ 

ท่านที่จะดูแลอาณาประชาราษฎร์ให้อยู่เย็นเป็นสุขอย่างสถาพร 

สืบไปนั่นเอง 



Bangkok Airways Hosts 2 Annual 

Royal Kathina Ceremonies 

Dr. Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth, the CEO of Bangkok Airways Public Company 

Limited, presided over the ceremony of the Royal Kathin Robe Offering at 

Wat Phra Kaew in Chiang Rai province, Thailand. The tradition to offer robes 

and other essentials to monks following Buddhist Lent took place on 

October 27, 2016. 

Participants included Bangkok Airways President Capt. Puttipong 

Prasarttong-Osoth, airline committee members, executive teams and their 

staff, together with Deputy Governor of Chiang Rai, Mr. Boonyavet 

Sripuangchai, senior government officials and honorary guests. 

บริษัท การบินกรุงเทพ จากัด (มหาชน) ถวายผ้า 

พระกฐินพระราชทาน ประจาปี 2559 โดยมีนายแพทย์ 

ปราเสริฐ ปราสาททองโอสถ ประธานคณะผู้บริหาร 

นายพุฒิพงศ์ ปราสาททองโอสถ กรรมการผู้อานวย- 

การใหญ่ คณะกรรมการ คณะผู้บริหาร และ 

พนักงานบริษัทฯ พร้อมด้วย นายบุญเวทย์ ศรีพวงใจ 

รองผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดเชียงราย ข้าราชการชั้นผู้ใหญ่ 

และแขกผู้มีเกียรติ เข้าร่วมในพิธีเมื่อวันที่ 27 ตุลาคม 

พ.ศ. 2559 ณ วัดพระแก้ว จังหวัดเชียงราย 

Mrs. Dennapa Prasarttong-Osoth and Capt. Puttipong 

Prasarttong-Osoth (4-5th from left), Mr. Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth 

and Mrs. Vanli Prasarttong-Osoth (7-8th from left) 

Bangkok Airways also hosted 

another Kathina Ceremony held 

at Mingun Tipitaka Nikaya 

Monastery in the Sagaing region in 

Myanmar on November 1, 2016. 

The ceremony was presided by 

Bangkok Airways executives and 

their family members with the aim 

to make merit and strengthen 

religious ties between Buddhists 

in Thailand and neighbouring 

country. 

บริษัท การบินกรุงเทพ จากัด (มหาชน) 

จัดงานเทศกาลกฐินประจาปี 2559 โดย 

มีนายแพทย์ปราเสริฐ ปราสาททองโอสถ 

ประธานคณะผู้บริหาร นางวัลลีย์ ปราสาท 

ทองโอสถ นายพุฒิพงศ์ ปราสาททอง- 

โอสถ กรรมการผู้อานวยการใหญ่ และ 

นางเด่นนภา ปราสาททองโอสถ เข้าร่วมใน 

พิธีเมื่อวันที่ 1 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2559 

ณ วัดมิงกุนโมเมกกงเหม่ สถาบันศึกษา 

พระไตรปิฎก รัฐสกาย สาธารณรัฐแห่ง 

สหภาพเมียนมาร์ 



Popular Thai star 

Yaya-Urassaya 

Sperbund joined 

the Bangkok 

Airways Youth Art 

Camp in Sukhothai, 

with over 50 

students and 

teachers 

participating from 

local schools. 

YOUTH ART CAMPS 

Bangkok Airways Public Co., Ltd. recently organised 

the “Bangkok Airways Youth Art Camp” in both 

Sukhothai and Trat provinces to emphasise and expand 

on the local culture and arts. To help build a stronger 

sense of community, Bangkok Airways created outreach 

programmes for the youth living in areas around the 

Sukhothai and Trat Airports. 

The art camps had the aim to encourage the local 

youth to preserve community uniqueness together with 

its invaluable arts and culture. By promoting a love for 

the arts, the programmes fostered a sense of belonging 

among the local youth in both provinces. 

Art Camp activities at Wat Tha Som, Trat Province, where 10 

selected paintings were exhibited at Trat Airport. 

บริษัท การบินกรุงเทพ จำกัด (มหาชน) เปิดโครงการค่ายศิลปะ 

ภายใต้หัวข้อ “สืบสานงานศิลป์ รักษ์ถิ่นบ้านเกิด” เพื่อส่งเสริมและ 

สนับสนุนให้เยาวชนในท้องถิ่นอนุรักษ์ศิลปวัฒนธรรมและงาน 

ศิลปะที่เป็นอัตลักษณ์ของชุมชน ณ โครงการไร่เกษตรอินทรีย์ 

สนามบินสุโขทัย จังหวัดสุโขทัย โดยมี ญาญ่า - อุรัสยา เสปอร์บันด์ 

เข้าร่วมกิจกรรม โดยมีการเชิญคณะครูและนักเรียนจากโรงเรียน 

ในพื้นที่โดยรอบสนามบินสุโขทัยกว่า 50 คนเข้าร่วมกิจกรรม 

ต่างๆ มากมาย อาทิ “สัมผัสวิถีเกษตรอินทรีย์” ชมการทำสวน 

เกษตรแปลงผักอินทรีย์แบบดั้งเดิม นั่งรถราง ปั่นจักรยานรอบ 

เมืองสุโขทัยเพื่อชมมรดกโลก รวมถึงเรียนรู้ศิลปะและประวัติศาสตร์ 

ความเป็นมาเบื้องต้นของจังหวัดสุโขทัย 

นอกจากนี้ยังจัดค่าย “สืบสานงานศิลป์ รักษ์ถิ่นบ้านเกิด” 

ขึ้นที่โรงเรียนวัดท่าโสม จ.ตราด ซึ่งมีผลงานที่ผ่านการคัดเลือก 

จำนวน 10 ผลงาน ที่ถ่ายทอดเรื่องราวของชุมชนตำบลท่าโสม 

ได้เป็นอย่างดี และผลงานดังกล่าวได้ถูกนำไปจัดแสดงที่สนามบิน 

ตราด เพื่อให้นักท่องเที่ยวได้ชื่นชมอีกด้วย 

BRINGING A CANAL BACK TO LIFE 

Members of a 

fund-raising 

programme supported 

by Bangkok Airways 

gather next to the 

irrigation canal that 

has been brought 

“back to life” to 

provide water to 

crops once it 

was fixed. 

“A Life Canal” has been a short but very meaningful water-related 

project for Bangkok Airways and the community of Tungsalieum 

district in Sukhothai province. People who relied on water from the 

Mae Bor Thong dam in the Klang Dong area experienced problems with 

damaged irrigation canals for several years. Insufficient water from an 

upstream reservoir, Mae Mok, affected the quality of agriculture and 

reduced productivity, especially to areas downstream that covered over 

850 rai (about 150 households). 

“คลองส่งน้ำมีชีวิต” คำสั้นๆ แต่มี 

ความหมายอย่างยิ่งสำหรับชุมชนอำเภอ 

ทุ่งเสลี่ยม จังหวัดสุโขทัย เนื่องด้วยตลอด 

หลายปีที่ผ่านมา กลุ่มเกษตรกรผู้ใช้น้ำ 

จากฝายแม่บ่อทอง ตำบลกลางดง 

อำเภอทุ่งเสลี่ยม ประสบปัญหาเรื่อง 

คลองชลประทานชำรุดเสียหาย ทำให้ไม่ได้ 

รับน้ำจากอ่างเก็บน้ำฝายแม่มอกอย่าง 

พอเพียง โดยเฉพาะพื้นที ่ทำการเกษตร 

ปลายน้ำซึ่งใช้ปลูกข้าวเป็นหลัก ชุมชนจึงมี 

รายได้ไม่เพียงพอต่อการดำรงชีพ 

บางกอกแอร์เวย์สได้เล็งเห็นความสำคัญ 

ของกลุ่มเกษตรกรในพื้นที่ดังกล่าว จึงได้ 

สนับสนุนงบประมาณเพื่อซ่อมแซมคลอง 

ส่งน้ำที่ชำรุดเป็นระยะทางกว่า 20 เมตร 

ทำให้คลองส่งน้ำแห่งนี้กลับมามีชีวิตขึ้นอีก 

ครั้ง และช่วยหล่อเลี้ยงพื้นที่การเกษตรได้ 

ทั่วถึงและยั่งยืนต่อไป 


flyerbonus 

winners from the “FlyerBonus Ten Years of 

Magical Journeys” Campaign ANNOUNCED 

Awards programme FlyerBonus, led by Mrs. Darunee Debavalya, 

Senior Director – Marketing Loyalty & Service (1st from left) congratulated 

Mr. Anusorn Thorasin (2nd from left), the lucky FlyerBonus member on 

winning a three days, two nights travel package to Luang Prabang 

from the “Ten Years of Magical Journeys” campaign. The ceremony was 

held at Bangkok Airways’ Ticketing Office in Lampang. The three days, 

two nights travel package to Luang Prabang is the grand prize from 

October 2016, sponsored by Burasari Heritage Luang Prabang. The value 

of the prize is 89,655 Baht. 

The “Ten Years of Magical Journeys” is a campaign to celebrate 

FlyerBonus’ 10th anniversary, offering FlyerBonus members travelling 

between December 10, 2015 and December 9, 2016 a chance to 

win an array of great prizes. The drawings took place on the 10th of 

every month throughout 2016. 

รายการสะสมคะแนนฟลายเออร์โบนัส ของสายการบิน 

บางกอกแอร์เวย์ส โดยคุณดรุณี เทพวัลย์ ผู้อำนวยการอาวุโส 

ส่วนกลยุทธ์ลูกค้าสัมพันธ์และการบริการ (ที่ 1 จากซ้าย) จัดพิธี 

มอบรางวัลแพ็กเกจท่องเที่ยวหลวงพระบาง ซึ่งเป็นรางวัลที่หนึ่ง 

ประจำเดือนตุลาคม 2559 จากแคมเปญ “Ten Years of Magical 

Journeys” แก่สมาชิกฟลายเออร์โบนัสผู้โชคดี ณ สำนักงาน 

ออกบัตรโดยสาร สายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส สำนักงาน 

ท่าอากาศยานลำปาง 

สำหรับรางวัลที่หนึ่งประจำเดือนตุลาคม 2559 คือ 

รางวัลแพ็กเกจท่องเที่ยวหลวงพระบาง 3 วัน 2 คืน สำหรับ 2 ท่าน 

มูลค่า 89,655 บาท ได้รับการสนับสนุนที่พักจากโรงแรม 

Burasari Heritage Luang Prabang โดยสมาชิกผู้โชคดี 

คือ คุณอนุสรณ์ ธรสินธุ์ (ที่ 2 จากซ้าย) 



127


AIRCRAFT INFO 

Bangkok Airways operates four types of aircraft 

Take me home. 

COMPLIMENTARY COPY 

JAN-FEB 2017 

AIRBUS A319 

Number of fleet : 12 

Number of dual class : 

4 (Business & Economy) 

Passenger capacity : 

12 seats & 108 seats 

number of single class : 

4/4 (Economy) 

Engine : IAE V2500 

Passenger capacity : 

138/144 seats 

Length : 33.84 m 

Wingspan : 34.1 m 

height : 12.17 m 

cruising speed : 920 km/h 

Max operational altitude : 

39,800 ft 

Fah Thai is the inflight magazine of Bangkok Airways. 

It is YOUR MAGAZINE. It is distributed complimentarily on all 

Bangkok Airways flights. We hope you enjoy the magazine. 

AIRBUS A320 





Engine : IAE V2500 

cruising speed : 

870 km/h 


39,800 ft 

passenger capacity : 

162 seats 

••••• 

Too much baggage? 

Read 


online! 

atr 72-500 





Engine : 2 x 2,750 hp 

Pratt & Whitney 

Canada PW127F 


509 km/h 


25,000 ft 


70 seats 

Fah Thai also comes in a digital format. 

You can read Fah Thai at 

fahthaimag.com 

And feel free to send us your feedback. 

Your voice is our inspiration! 

atr 72-600 

NEW 


Length : 27.166 m 



Engine : 2 x 2,750 hp 

Pratt & Whitney 

Canada PW127M 


509 km/h 


25,000 ft 


70 seats 

OUR SCHEDULE FLIGHTS AND FREQUENCY 

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS 

Bangkok, Koh Samui, Phuket and Chiang Mai : 

Numerous flights every day from a variety of destinations 

Chiang Rai : 3 flights per day from Bangkok 

Hat Yai : 

2 flights per day from Phuket 

Koh Chang/Trat : 3 flights per day from Bangkok 

Krabi : 4 flights per day from Bangkok ; 

1 flight per day from Koh Samui 

Lampang : 3 flights per day from Bangkok 

Mae Hong Son : 10 flights per week from Chiang Mai 

Pattaya : 1 flight per day from Phuket ; 

1 flight per day from Koh Samui 

Sukhothai : 3 flights per day from Bangkok 

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS 

Chengdu : 7 flights per week from Samui 

Danang : 4 flights per week from Bangkok 

Dhaka : 

1 flight per day from Bangkok 

Guang Zhou : 7 flights per week from Samui 

Hong Kong : 2 flights per day from Koh Samui 

Kuala Lumpur : 1 flight per day from Koh Samui 

Luang Prabang : 2 flights per day from Bangkok 

Male’ : 

1 flight per day from Bangkok 

Mandalay : 1 flight per day from Bangkok ; 

4 flights per week from Chiang Mai 

Mumbai : 1 flight per day from Bangkok 

Nay Pyi Taw : 6 flights per week from Bangkok 

Phnom Penh : 6 flights per day from Bangkok 

Siem Reap : 5 flights per day from Bangkok 

Singapore : 2 flights per day from Koh Samui 

Vientiane : 1 flight per day from Bangkok 

Yangon : 4 flights per day from Bangkok ; 

1 flight per day from Chiang Mai 


checking out 

Guangzhou, 

Edgy by the River 

The industrial port on the Pearl 

River fast forwards itself as an 

architecture destination with 

structures like the avant garde 

Guangzhou Opera House.

Fah Thai Magazine Jan-Feb 2017

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